Female head sculpture "mma"
Côte d'Ivoire, Agni/Krinjabo (Sanwi)
sold
EUR 1,700
Provenance
Collection HirschStéphane Mangin, Galerie Kanaga, Paris, France (1992)
Yves Créhalet, Paris, France
Rive Gauche, Paris, 18 November 2013, lot 71
Size
H: 20,5 cm
H: 8.1 inch
Description
fired clay, coating of blackish plant extract, naturalistic facial features, raised scarification marks, disc-shaped flattened headdress, slightly dam., minor missing parts, abrasion of paint, rest. (?), acrylic base;
these terracotta portraits served as receptacles for the souls of venerated deceased.
This head probably originates from the Krinjabo area. Krinjabo was once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Sanwi, founded in 1740 by members of the Agni tribe from Ghana. Today, the Krinjabo/Sanwi area is an important archaeological site where important objects can be found.
According to oral tradition, the first head of this kind is said to have represented the mythical kings mother Akou Amnan from the kingdom of Sanwi.
Publications
AHDRC: 0142130