Early 20th Century Terracotta Clay Funerary Portrait Akan Asante Nsodia on Custom Base Ghana

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Terracotta (baked clay) heads served as funerary portraits and memorials for the Akan peoples of Ghana and for the Agni … Read more Terracotta (baked clay) heads served as funerary portraits and memorials for the Akan peoples of Ghana and for the Agni and Krinjabo people, who are coastal Akan in Côte d'Ivoire. The age of this interesting figure is unknown. I have not had this piece's thermoluminescence tested for age, but I can recommend a laboratory if you would like one.
These terracotta heads, known as "nsodia" were placed in forest groves and considered sacred. As stylized portraits, they represented the individual by the traits identified with them during their lifetime. For example, the normally reddish-brown color of the clay might have red or white lines added to the forehead to represent the individual's relationship to the mother's family.







With base:Height (In): 12.0Width (In): 6.0Depth (In): 6.0Without base: Height (In): 10.0Width (In): 6.0Depth (In): 6.0














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