Fertility doll "akua ba" ·  Ghana, Ashanti · ID: 3036540

Description

wood, rich shiny black patina, unusually carved with arms and legs, characteristic: neckrings and disc-shaped head with compressed facial plane, especially abundant decor with cord material and beads, loincloth with several strings of tiny read miniature glass beads and red fabric, slightly dam., spot-like abrasion of patina at the head, plate;
the legend goes that a childless woman, called “akua”, asked a sorcerer for help. He recommended her to order the carving of a wooden child. “Akua” followed his advice and always carried the doll around with her. It was called “akua ba” which means no more than “Akuas child”. Finally she gave birth to a beautiful daughter".

The object Fertility doll “akua ba” with the object ID 3036540 was part of the auction 76th tribal art auction on March 22, 2014. The object with the lot number 408 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,600 with an asking price of EUR 1,000.

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Comparing literature

Bofinger, Brigitte & Wolfgang, Puppen aus Afrika, Stuttgart 2006, p. 36