Head

Akan group, Ghana, African

19th century

  • Titles Head (Descriptive)
  • Medium fired clay and slip
  • Dimensions 6 3/4 x 5 1/4 x 4 in. (17.1 x 13.3 x 10.2 cm)
  • Credit Line Collection of the Art Fund, Inc. at the Birmingham Museum of Art; Dick Jemison Collection of African Pottery, AFI.153.2012
  • Work Type sculpture
  • Classification Sculpture

See More of the Collection

Power Figure (Bochio), Fon people, Republic of Benin (formerly Kingdom of Dahomey), Togo, African, wood, string, metal lock, encrustations
Standing Figure, Temne people, African, wood, glass beads, British West Africa halfpenny coin and cord
Headdress in the form of a female figure.
Helmet mask with glossy, black surface; coiffure of fine plaits close to the skull leading to thick braid rising from top of head. Prominent, domed forehead, slitted "cowrie shell" shaped eyes, small mouth, nose, and ears; three vertical scarification marks on each cheek. Two bulging rings around neck; base of mask pierced with multiple holes for attachment of fiber costume. Function: Worn by women of the Sande Society during initiation of girls into the society, and on other occasions; morphology of the mask reflects Mende ideals of feminine beauty and power.