• Twifo-Hemang people, South Central Ghana

• 17th - 18th century

• Terracotta

• 3.5 x 2.5 in. / 9 x 6 cm

• Height on custom display stand: 5.75 in. / 15 cm

A clay head in the classic Twifo-Hemang style. Having a smooth shaved head with a patch of hair at the crown, a broad forehead, semicircular eyebrows, closed eyes, a naturalistic nose, and a small mouth.

This type of sculpture was a representation of an ancestor and viewed as a substitute for the deceased. It was created for the formal funeral which sometimes took place months after the actual burial. Even though this was a commemorative rendition of the deceased, considered a portrait, it is a stylized resemblance of the departed, with a few specific aspects such as hairstyle, pierced ears, or a beard.

Domestic shipping included. International shipping quoted separately.

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