Ashanti Fertility figure (akua mmba). carved, painted wood cylindrical body ending in a plinth, pointed breasts and navel. cross-piece arms ending in points. banded neck. large disk head with small carved features. back of head incised with zig-zags and lines. 3 perforations around head.
Donor:
Berta Bascom
Collection place:
Ghana
Verbatim coll. place:
West Africa; Ghana; Ashanti
Culture or time period:
Ashanti
Collector:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Materials:
Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works)
Function:
5.0 Use not specified (Ritual, Pageantry, and Recreation)
Accession date:
June 23, 2004
Context of use:
Personal votive
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
height 32 centimeters, width 16.5 centimeters, and length 5.6 centimeters
Comment:
Illustrated: Duluth News-Tribune 3/28/1948 Sunday World-Herald Magazine, 4/4/1948 The Pittsburg Press, 4/11/1948 Handbook of West African Art, 1953, Cover + plate 21 left
Loans:
S1971-1972 #74: Diablo Valley College (February 1, 1972–March 3, 1972)