Female shrine figure · Ghana, Fante · ID: 3031039
Hermann Sommerhage, Duisburg, Germany
Dutch Private Collection
Description
wood, honey brown patina, kaolin and black paint, string of glass beads, presumably the figure held a child in front of her lap, which is now missing, traces of kaolin which originally covered the whole figure, min. dam., cracks, missing parts (foot tips), base;
the colour white “hyire” is important to the Fante. Priests and priestesses during rituals associated to their shrine will cover their bodies in white powder to celebrate the gods. Figures in shrines will also be covered with white clay to indicate their spirituality. During their time of pregnancy women will wear white and after a successful delivery both husband and wife will wear white to celebrate their new child.
The object Female shrine figure with the object ID 3031039 was last part of the auction 77th tribal art auction at June 28, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 248 achieved a sales price of EUR 750.
You can find more Figures and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.
Comparing literature
Aspects, Akan cultures in Ghana, Den Haag 2001, p. 48