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Figure
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A master female potter among the Asante created this clay sculpture to commemorate the departed. While not a naturalistic portrait, this figure depicts features associated with the dead person such as coiffure or facial marks. The rolls of flesh on the neck are a widespread artistic convention for beauty, prosperity, and well-being. After placing the memorial in a sacred forest clearing, family members invoked the spirit of the departed and asked it to accept the sculpture and facilitate communications with ancestors.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, Akan-style artist |
|---|---|
| Date | 1800s |
| Culture / Origin | Africa, West Africa, Ghana, Akan-style artist |
| Medium | Terracotta |
| Dimensions | Overall: 12.7 cm (5 in.) |
| Department | African Art |
| Type | Sculpture |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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