20th Century Wooden Ashanti Akua'Ba Fertility Dolls

Item Details

Unknown
Untitled
Carved wood
Unsigned

A set of 20th century wooden Ashanti akua’ba fertility dolls. These dolls feature geometric scars to their idealized disk-like faces and are embellished with red camwood powder. Young women would carry these dolls with them in hopes of conceiving a healthy, beautiful child. Similar akua’ba can be seen in the Quai Branly Museum in Paris.

Condition

- surface abrasions and dust present to each.

Dimensions

- taller doll measures; shorter doll measures 5.5" W x 13" H x 2.5" D.

Item #

18DCC450-023