Four Fanti Female Figures
Ghana
Mid 20th century
Height 8" - 12 1/4"
Provenance: Constance McCormick Fearing, Santa Barbara, CA, before 1960
The Fanti people of Ghana are one of the peoples generally thought to not possess a masquerading tradition. The Fanti use acua’ba dolls, which differ from those of the Asante, their northern neighbors. As this is a matrilineal society, the acua’ba are female. They are used as fertility figurines in shrines or worn by women either to induce conception or, during pregnancy, to assure the birth of a beautiful child, preferably, a daughter. The acua’ba is fed, carried and bathed as if it were a living baby.
Ghana
Mid 20th century
Height 8" - 12 1/4"
Provenance: Constance McCormick Fearing, Santa Barbara, CA, before 1960
The Fanti people of Ghana are one of the peoples generally thought to not possess a masquerading tradition. The Fanti use acua’ba dolls, which differ from those of the Asante, their northern neighbors. As this is a matrilineal society, the acua’ba are female. They are used as fertility figurines in shrines or worn by women either to induce conception or, during pregnancy, to assure the birth of a beautiful child, preferably, a daughter. The acua’ba is fed, carried and bathed as if it were a living baby.
Ghana
Mid 20th century
Height 8" - 12 1/4"
Provenance: Constance McCormick Fearing, Santa Barbara, CA, before 1960
The Fanti people of Ghana are one of the peoples generally thought to not possess a masquerading tradition. The Fanti use acua’ba dolls, which differ from those of the Asante, their northern neighbors. As this is a matrilineal society, the acua’ba are female. They are used as fertility figurines in shrines or worn by women either to induce conception or, during pregnancy, to assure the birth of a beautiful child, preferably, a daughter. The acua’ba is fed, carried and bathed as if it were a living baby.