BoW-22 / Akua'ba - Akan (Asante), Ghana

Height: 11.5 in / 29.2 cm

ex SMA Fathers (Society of African Missions), Cadier en Keer, Netherlands
ex Robert van der Heiden, Netherlands
ex Karlsson | Wickman, Sweden

Wood, Pigment

Another figure with a beautifully worn surface, where the original black has been rubbed away to reveal rich brown tones. What really sets this one apart for me is the profile. The head has a fantastic shape, with a sweeping forehead that tilts back dramatically, echoed in the carving of the back of the head, which feels almost bent backward. It’s a real departure from the typically straight-backed heads seen on most figures. The incised designs on the back are excellent, and it’s hard to tell from photos, but the half-circle near the top is carved unusually deep—almost as if it were meant as a natural grip for your finger when lifting the figure.

$2500 plus shipping