Figure, D96.120

Standing wooden figure, of non-apparent sex. Colour is light wood, lightly painted/chalked white - much of which has disappeared. Black hair, parted on figures left side. Black eye slits, with black eye brows nearly disappeared. Foreshortened arms with minimal suggestion of fingers. Toes minimally suggested, originally apparently blackened. Image has appearance of 'skirt' around waist and over buttocks. Minimal hints of symmetrical black designs on front/ventral side from hands to 'knees'. Also hint of whitish/yellow painted strip around neck and over 'thighs'. Holes drilled under both feet.

Akan (Fante) Original notes say Nigeria. However, figure would appear more likely to be from Ghana. Wood Human figures are often made for shrines of various deities. These figures, which may be akua ba fertility figures, show the chalk white powder commonly used to whiten the skin in religious ceremonies. Wooden figure -standing - of non-apparent sex. Colour is light wood, lightly painted/chalked white - much of which has disappeared. Black hair, parted on figures left side. Black eye slits, with black eye brows nearly disappeared. Foreshortened arms with minimal suggestion of fingers. Toes minimally suggested,, originally apparently blackened. Slight chips off heals and toes of both feet. Image has appearance of 'skirt' around waist and over buttocks. Minimal hints of symmetrical black designs on front/ventral side from hands to 'knees'. Also hint of whitish/yellow painted strip around neck and over 'thighs'. Height =approx. 263mm. Front to back at buttocks =56mm. Akua ba. —Joel A Vanderburg

Locality: Nigeria