Terracotta memorial figure

Description

light-beige clay, remains of greyish brown patina, half-figure with stump arms and a long ringed neck, oversize head with prominent goatee beard and eye-catching coiffure projecting from the head in several lobes, raised tribal marks, incised patterns, dam., missing parts, rep. (breakages: neck, beard and coiffure), metal plate;
“Krinjabo” was the capital of the Old Kingdom of “Sanwi” flourishing in the 18th century. Today it is known as archeological site on the territory of the Agni, an ethnic group settling in the eastern part of the Ivory Coasts Akan territory. Only members of the royal family were allowed to make terracotta portraits of their dead which served as receptacle for the fleshless soul of the divine ancestor. Later the privilege was enlarged for all “Sanwi”, and at the courtly funerals the custom was confirmed by libations with human blood poured over the heads. The sculptures were modeled by potters from one of the privileged families in the house of the dead at the end of the mid mourning period, which could last between seven days and one year. A few days before the final ceremonies the heads were covered with several coats of a blackish plant extract.

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