Fante Akuaba with Amber Beads

Akuaba are wooden ritual fertility dolls. Steven van de Raadt and Daniel Mato write in Aspects: Akan Cultures in Ghana that “Fante akuaba are known by their vertical flat heads in opposition to other Akan round headed figures. They are also unpainted retaining the natural light color of the wood.” Fante figures are often embellished with “jewelry around the neck and arms or ankles,” like this one’s beautiful amber beaded necklaces, and feature “designs worked onto the rectangular shape of the head. The body may be given as a simple tube or carved in some detail.” Ex Merton Simpson.

9.5″

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