Akuaba Asante Ghana

very nice example of akuaba. it is a known hand in Ron van Doorn's book, p 158 he calls this group "cheerful eyes There are about fifty known of them, many of which are in museums The oldest was published by Segy in 1963 see on AHDRC from number 0051098 to number 0050992 the heads are generally almost round with perforations on the edges generally two under the eyes and one at the top The eyes are almond shaped and in relief the eyebrows in relief and thick. The expression is soft and attractive. The mouth is placed much lower than the nose. The neck is ringed and slightly curved forwards.The glass bbeads which ornate the neck are very small as in the oldest akuammas The back of the head always shows the same pattern 4 or two parallel lines in which insert two braces The arms are conical and quite thick in relation to the body The concave and natural curve of the breasts begins above the arms and ends below; some akuamma of this type have legs, others have a cylindrical torso. so nt all relatively small from 18 to 26cm This copy is particularly fine and elegant published in Hadrc 0199426
provenance 
Philippe Ratton 1979
private Paris collection
Beppeand denise  Berna Italy
private collection Bergamo