1 of 4

African Fanti Akua’ba Fertility Doll from Ghana

$4,500List Price

About the Item

This is a well-executed example of one of Africa’s most recognizable fertility idols, the Akuaba doll. Like most tribes, the Fanti hold fertility in extremely high regard; those societies that do not grow are doomed to fail. As a result, women are, from an early age, constantly aware of the importance of conception and successful delivery of live children. Any failure to do so would be construed as a disgrace not only for her, but for her family and tribe. So to negate any ill-fortune, she may visit the tribal medicine man to commission a piece such as this. The name Akua’ba relates to the myth of a woman (named Akua) and the trials involved in her attempts to have a child (ba); her solution was to treat a wooden doll as a child, and eventually she herself became pregnant. Endowed with magical properties, these dolls are treated as if they were real babies – carried around, dressed, washed, fed and even put to bed. It is likely that they do have a positive effect on the prevalence of successful conception, if only from a psychosomatic point of view. Once born, the child may be encouraged to play with the doll, thus promoting maternal sentiment; while a male child may be wished for, these dolls are almost always female, partly because of the matrilineal nature of Asante society. The Asante are one of six tribes (the others are the Fante, Aowin, Anyi, Akye and Abron) that go to make up the Akan group of the former Gold Coast – now Ghana. Their society, which was founded in the 14th century, has had a very turbulent history and was involved in the 18th century federation that took a golden stool as their emblem and rose up against the European invaders. Their society is highly ritualised, with numerous gods under the main deity known as Onyame (“the Supreme One”), and a host of spirits that include, for our purposes, the earth goddess of fertility – Asase Yaa. Both Fanti and Asante iconography and artistic design are among the most abstract and expressionist in Africa, and was immensely influential in the development of European art styles in the early days of the 20th century. Prestige pieces are uncommon, and are either made from rare materials such as ivory, or are adorned with trade beads or other precious objects. Akuaba dolls are not especially uncommon. However, well-carved examples of what is largely a symbolic amulet are infrequently found. Although they follow standardised stylistic trends, there is some variation. The most extreme versions come from outside the Asante range; Fante variants have elongated rectangular heads as this example displays, while the Bono people carve smiling Akuabas with ornate hair and rather vacuous expressions. Even within the Asante tribal areas there are stylistic variants – that denote different geographical origins or sculptors – in the way details are carved, and it is probable that further research could identify the exact origin of this particular piece.

Dimensions:
Height: 18.25 in (46.36 cm)Width: 3 in (7.62 cm)Depth: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)
Style:
Tribal (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Wood,Carved
Place of Origin:
Ghana
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
20th Century
Condition:
Very Fine Condition.
Seller Location:
Beverly Hills, CA
Reference Number:
Seller: GDC.0431stDibs: LU232335758043

Mid-20th Century Ghanaian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Akua ba Ritual Fertility Doll

$1,631

H 13.78 in W 5.12 in D 2.37 in

Akua´ba fertility dolls, Ashanti, Ghana. 20th century

Located in Stockholm, SE

A pair of Akua´ba (Akuba/Akwaba) fertility dolls from Ghana. 20th century. 2 disc-headed carved figures, similar but not identical. Good condition. Signs of wear consistent with age.

Category

20th Century Ghanaian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Akua´ba fertility dolls, Ashanti, Ghana. 20th century

$533 / set

H 14.18 in W 4.73 in D 2.17 in

Beaded Ndebele Fertility Doll

Located in Chicago, IL

A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king). As beads become gradually more accessible throughout the 19th century, they began to displace the organic materials used in traditional art and attire. This colorful example of African beadwork is a fertility doll...

Category

20th Century South African Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Cotton, Wood

Beaded Ndebele Fertility Doll

$280

H 7.25 in W 4.25 in D 3.25 in

Beaded Ndebele Fertility Doll

Located in Chicago, IL

Category

20th Century South African Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Cotton, Wood

Beaded Ndebele Fertility Doll

$280

H 8.25 in W 4.75 in D 3.5 in

Set of Three Beaded Ndebele Fertility Dolls

Located in Chicago, IL

Category

20th Century South African Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Cotton, Wood

Set of Three Beaded Ndebele Fertility Dolls

$1,180 / set

H 10.75 in W 3.5 in D 3.5 in

Pair of African Cowrie Fertility Idol Figures

Located in Queens, NY

Pair of African (19/20th Cent) seated Cowrie fertility idol figures with a surface of small shells and beads and mounted on modern silver metal bases

Category

20th Century African Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Shell, Wood, Paint

Pair of African Cowrie Fertility Idol Figures

$22,500 / set

H 31 in W 14.25 in D 10.5 in

Ashante Akua Ba

By Nicholas Africano

Located in Glasgow, GB

This is a very fine example of an ' Akua Ba ' doll from the Ashante people of Ghana . Akua ba means 'welcome child ' in the Twi language of the region. Carved from a very light weig...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Ghanaian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Ashante Akua Ba

$792

H 6.7 in W 3.55 in D 0.79 in

Antique Ghanian Ashanti Style Stool with Leopard Carved, Africa

Located in Moreno Valley, CA

Carved Antique African Leopard Ashanti Style Stool. Early 20th Century Ghanaian Ashanti style leopard stool. Animal leopard stool hand-carved wood from ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Ghanaian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Antique Ghanian Ashanti Style Stool with Leopard Carved, Africa

$2,500

H 14.5 in W 22 in D 10.5 in

Decorative African Bronze Fish from the Tribal People of Benin

By People from Benin

Located in Miami, FL

A unique intricately detailed hand-hammered bronze of a fish. Bursting with character, this marine life mythical decorative object would enhance any shelf or tabletop. This object form is one of the best-known examples of Benin art, created from the thirteenth century onwards, by the Edo people, which also included other sculptures in brass, including some famous portrait heads and smaller pieces of art. Tribal African Art...

Category

20th Century Beninese Tribal Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Decorative African Bronze Fish from the Tribal People of Benin

$1,320 Sale Price

44% Off

H 2 in W 5.75 in D 14.75 in

ANTIQUE DAYAK SHAMAN FERTILITY SCULPTURE STATUE IRON WOOD KALIMANTAN BORNEO 94cm

Located in Reutlingen, DE

As beautiful as rare, antique Fertility Fetish Statue from South Kalimantan (Indonesia / Borneo), carved from hardwood. Over 100 years old. This Dayak magic figure, carved from...

Category