Asante Female Fertility Figure (Akua’ba) thaiceramics a practice reflected in this

a practice reflected in this burial offering meant to serve the deceased in the afterlife

a distinctive shape within Kraak ware

a motif tied to rejuvenation and regeneration—central concepts in the traditional beliefs of the Cenderawasih Bay peoples

and homes as tokens of prosperity and divine guardianship

and three applied strap handles

Asante Female Fertility Figure (Akua’ba) thaiceramics a practice reflected in thisAsante people, early 20th century, Ghana Magnificent early Asante fertility figure, akuaba (Akuas child), masterfully carved from fine grained wood and exhibiting a smooth, lustrous patina acquired through years of devotional handling. The figure depicts an idealized, abstract female forma long cylindrical torso with small horizontal arms, a ringed neck symbolizing beauty and prosperity, and a large, flat, disklike head embodying knowledge and