This is the rating and price for Asante Wood Akuaba Figure

Description : **Originally Listed At $350** West Africa, Ghana, Asante (also Ashanti, Achanti) people, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A delightful hand-carved wooden fertility figure known as an Akua'ba (also Akuaba) with dark surface pigments. The figure rests on a simple conical body and base with a protruding belly button, breasts, and arms open wide. The thick rings carved around her neck are a standard artistic convention to show rolls of fat, which is a sign of beauty and prosperity in this culture. Atop is an oversized discoid head with a minimalist countenance. The neck is adorned with a thread strung with a few dozen glass seed beads in hues of black and yellow. Ritualistic scars or tattoos are incised in a linear shape along her stomach and back. Piercings on the head and ears may have held additional ornamentation at one time. Size: 4 L x 1.375 W x 9.25 H (10.2 cm x 3.5 cm x 23.5 cm), 10 H (25.4 cm) on included custom stand. 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 City, 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 customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most Antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia.  For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. #163559
Price: 342.38 USD It's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 600 USD-900 USD It's free to register now to view!

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