Among the Ashanti and related Akan tribes (such as Fante, Anyi, etc.) it was customary in the case of important deceased persons to place portrait-like ‘memorial heads’ on their tombs in ‘holy’ burial sites or in shrines. The present ‘portrait head’ of the Ashanti is shaped in grey-brown engobe and can be attributed to the Hemang-Twifo region. The relatively long, bulging, ringed neck is surmounted by a typical oval head with wider upper section. With a serious expression, low set ears, three small hair tufts as a coiffure and with three scarification marks on the temples and forehead. On the back of the memorial head a hole is visible that prevents the terracotta piece from cracking when being baked. A piece with good, old, slightly shiny patina. Only minor age-related damage (some small pieces broken off). In specialised literature the old memorial heads of the Ashanti are dated as far back as the 17th/18th century. Unfortunately, no precise thermoluminescent dating is available for the present terracotta head. However, its style and external appearance definitely indicate its ‘old’ age (18th/19th century?). H: 23 cm. (ME)

Provenance: German private collection.

Lit.: ‘Erde und Erz’ by K.-F. Schädler, ill. 303, 305, 308, 321, 340, 344; ‘Die Kunst des schwarzen Afrika’ by Kerchache, Paudrat, Stephan, ill. 71–73.