BoW-18 / Standing figure - Akan (Fante), Ghana

Height: 11.25 in / 28.6 cm

ex James Willis, CA

Wood, pigment

While this figure aligns closely with what I associate with Fante akua’ba, I can’t say with complete certainty that it should be firmly attributed as such. The overall proportions, upright stance, and treatment of the head and neck point in that direction, but there are elements that sit just slightly outside what I would consider a textbook Fante example. For that reason, I prefer to describe it more cautiously as Akan, possibly Fante, while still acknowledging the strong stylistic pull in that direction.

In Ron van Doorn’s Akua’ba Akan Wednesday Child, plate #87 illustrates three figures with nearly identical facial features. One is armless, while the other two have arms. In a survey he conducted, only the armless figure was identified as an akua’ba. That figure is BoW-19, and I believe this figure, BoW-18, was carved by the same hand. While it is most likely an akua’ba, I prefer to leave the attribution open rather than risk being definitive when I’m not completely certain. It is certainly a very old and well used figure, just like BoW-19.

$1000 plus shipping