264

Large Fantis

  • Country: Ghana
  • Source: From the estate collection of Helena and Ladislas Segy, NYC., first acquired January 1964 and published: L. Segy, “African Sculpture Speaks”, 1969, p. 184. Other acquired 50s - 70s.
  • Size (cm): 39
  • Material: Wood

“The carvings of Ashanti labeled akua’ba In the Twwi language the word akua means “child born on Wednesday” and ba means “child.” The figure, worn by women in the back of the wasistcloth, had two functions: first, to insure a good birth and also to impart the beauty of the statute to the child and, second, to help a woman become pregnant. … Akua’ba are often known as “dolls” but on in the last twenty years, under European influence, have become playthings”

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