Memorial Head – Terracotta – Akan- Ghana

This terracotta memorial head from the Akan peoples of Ghana belongs to the well‑documented nsodie funerary tradition, in which sculpted portrait heads were created to honour deceased nobles and rulers. These heads were placed in sacred cemetery groves (asensie) as part of commemorative assemblages that preserved lineage memory and ancestral presence. Typical Akan memorial heads show the distinctive flattened, oval facial structure, arched brows, and coffee‑bean‑shaped eyes, often with a ringed neck and carefully modelled hairstyles. Many examples also display scarification marks or small nodes along the hairline, reflecting Akan ideals of beauty and status. The terracotta surface often carries weathering, soil deposits, and abrasion, consistent with long exposure in open‑air memorial groves. These physical traces are characteristic of Akan memorial heads dating from the 12th to 18th century, produced by specialist women potters and used in funerary rites. A culturally significant and evocative example of Akan ancestral memorial sculpture, valued for its serene portraiture, ritual meaning, and archaeological presence. Provenance: Manfred Schäfer collection, ex- gallery owner from Ulm, Germany.

Object:	Rooster
Ethnic group:	Akan
Country:	Ghana
Material:	Terracotta
Estimated period:
Sold with stand:	No
Dimensions:	18x11x10 cm
Weight:	560 gram
Condition:	Good condition, used with some signs of wear