Seated female figure "eli mansa" ·  Ghana, Akan · ID: 3038315

Description

wood, partly shiny brown patina, remains of pigments, clan stool “dwa” in typical form, the figure carved with a patterned (“kente”) cloth, neckrings, necklace and elaborate coiffure, all details marking her as a person of higher rank, forefinger resting on the right cheek, min. dam., traces of insect caused damage (base), small missing parts, cracks;
“eli mansa” figures are displayed on ritual shrines, they should encourage the fertility of man, should guarantee successful births and thus secure the continuity of the clan. Furtheron they should provide sufficient food.

The object Seated female figure “eli mansa” with the object ID 3038315 was last part of the auction 79th Tribal Art Auction at March 21, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 221 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,500.

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