COLLECTION NAME:
The AMICA Library
Record
AMICA ID:
CMA_.1975.158
AMICA Library Year:
2003
Object Type:
Sculpture
Creator Nationality:
Africa, Ghana, Fanti, 19th century
Creator Name-CRT:
Africa, Ghana, Fanti, 19th century
Title:
Female Figure (akuaba)
Title Type:
Primary
View:
Full View
Creation Date:
c. 1870
Creation Start Date:
1865
Creation End Date:
1875
Materials and Techniques:
wood and hair
Classification Term:
Sculpture
Style or Period:
Africa, Ghana, Fanti, 19th century
Dimensions:
Overall: 42.9cm x 4.6cm x 5.1cm
AMICA Contributor:
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Owner Location:
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
ID Number:
1975.158
Credit Line:
Gift of Katherine C. White
Context:
Akuaba dolls were carried on the backs of pregnant women (or those who hoped to conceive) as a kind of prayer for a healthy, beautiful child. Note the attention given to the head -- a tall, rectangular form with an intricate pattern on the back and topped by braided tufts of hair. Notice also the ringed neck -- a reference to creases, a supreme sign of beautiful corpulence. Many of these dolls are treated with special care for generations, becoming family heirlooms appreciated for their beauty and their reference to well-loved family members.
Related Image Identifier Link:
CMA_.1975.158.tif
