Fante Carving Doll Ghana African Miniature African


  • Product ID: W3382
  • Ethnic Group: Fante
  • Price: $90.00
  • Shipping: $15.90
  • Quantity Available: 1

Title: Fante Carving Doll, Ghana African
Type of Object: Carving, doll
Ethnic Group: Fante
Country of Origin: Ghana
Materials: wood, pigment
Approximate Age: Mid 20th century
Dimensions: Height is 11 inches.
Overall Condition: Good . Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.   Small splits, scrapes and cracks are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use.  We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings.  Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage.
Damage, Repair: crack with indigenous repair in the back

Additional Information:  When Europeans first came to the area known as the Gold Coast (present-day Ghana) in the late 1400's they met the people known as the Fante. The Fante are members of the larger culture and language group known as the Akan that includes the Asante among others.

Carved wooden figures such as this are found among all of the Akan serving a number of different uses.

Women have small figures carved to insure fertility and the birth of healthy children. Known as Aqua'ba these small figures would be carried by the women in bands around their waists or after giving birth they would place the Aqua'ba in shrines as marks of their appreciation to the local spirits.

Some Aqua'ba are highly abstracted while a few others are carved in naturalistic style. What distinguishes this figure uniquely as Fante is the stylized headdress of strands of hair being brought to a point, which can be seen among the Fante today.

The hairstyle can also be an indicator that the figure may have been of royal lineage. Also the fact that the wood was not painted and left in its natural white color also indicates coastal Fante.

The rings around the neck are typical Akan marks indicating health and well being and as a sign of beauty. This is a particularly good example of Fante carving in detail of carving and the overall form.

Recommended Reading:

Mato, D. Aspects: Akan Cultures in Ghana. 2001.

Cole, H.M. & Ross, D. H. The Arts of Ghana. 1978.