Height: 29 cm
Patina: Warm honey-colored surface with soft age polish
Provenance: Ex-collection Nadya Levi
This graceful Asante Akuaba fertility doll from Ghana stands 29 cm high and carries a beautiful honey patina from long ritual handling. While it bears the classic features of the Akan tradition—broad disc-like head, ringed neck, and refined stylization—it is unusual in that the arms are missing, though traces of wear show they were once present.
The absence of arms opens intriguing questions: had the figure been desacralized after ritual use, or was it re-purposed in a different cultural context? Among the neighboring Fante people, arm-less Akuaba figures are known, suggesting this doll may reflect a blending of Asante and Fante traditions, or a later adaptation of form.
As with all Akuaba, the figure embodies ideals of fertility, beauty, and prosperity, recalling the legend of Akua, who first carried such a doll to aid conception. Women cherished these figures, wearing them on their backs and adorning them with beads, to ensure the birth of healthy and beautiful children.
This piece, from the respected Nadya Levi collection, resonates with history and devotion. Its unusual condition only enriches its story, making it a rare and thought-provoking addition to a serious collection of African art.
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Read also:
A Personal Reflection on My Mother’s African Art Collection .
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