Asante Female Fertility Figure (Akua’ba) thaiceramics Cloak pins of this type

Cloak pins of this type were used for securing garments or adorning hairstyles

and three applied strap handles

a motif tied to rejuvenation and regeneration—central concepts in the traditional beliefs of the Cenderawasih Bay peoples

a distinctive shape within Kraak ware

While flint tools were common—axes

Asante Female Fertility Figure (Akua’ba) thaiceramics Cloak pins of this typeAsante people, early 20th century, Ghana Magnificent early Asante fertility figure, akuaba (Akuas child), masterfully carved from fine grained wood and exhibiting a smooth, lustrous patina acquired through years of devotional handling. The figure depicts an idealized, abstract female forma long cylindrical torso with small horizontal arms, a ringed neck symbolizing beauty and prosperity, and a large, flat, disklike head embodying knowledge and