This is the rating and price for 20Th C. African Asante Wood Akuaba Figure W/ Beads

Description : West Africa, Ghana, Akan / Asante (also Ashanti, Achanti) people, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. This is a fine hand-carved wooden figure in a highly abstract female form, characteristic of Akua'ba, or Akuaba fertility dolls. The round head in incised with narrow eyes and brow lines with a slightly protruding nose - a very simplified visage supported by a tubular, ringed neck. the lengthy cylindrical torso has attenuated, outstretched arms, conical breasts, pronounced navel, and spooled base - all part of the traditional form that emphasizes ideal female beauty. Two strands of glass beads in red and green decorate her lower body. Akua'ba are used in a variety of contexts, primarily, however, they are consecrated by priests and carried by women who hope to conceive a child. Size: 2.75 L x 1.5 W x 10 H (7 cm x 3.8 cm x 25.4 cm), 11 H (27.9 cm) on included custom stand. The flat, disk-like head is a strongly exaggerated convention of the Akan ideal of beauty: a high, oval forehead, slightly flattened in actual practice by gentle modeling of an infant's soft cranial bones. The flattened shape of the sculpture also serves a practical purpose, since women carry the figures against their backs wrapped in their skirt, evoking the manner that infants are carried. The name Akua'ba (literally Akua's child) comes from a legend of a woman named Akua who was unable to conceive a child until a priest suggested she carry a small wooden doll and treat it like an infant. Even though her local villagers laughed at her, she soon conceived a real child, and the practice became accepted. These dolls are always female because, as a matrilineal society, the women prefer female children to carry on their family line! Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #166766
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