Funerary Effigy
1972.07.0006
Detailed Images
Basic Information
| Artifact Identification | Funerary Effigy (1972.07.0006) |
|---|---|
| Classification/ Nomenclature |
|
| Artist/Maker | Unknown |
| Geographic Location | |
| Period | Colonial |
| Date | 19th century |
| Culture | Asante, Ashanti, Akan |
Physical Analysis
| Dimension 1 (Height) | 30.0 cm |
|---|---|
| Dimension 2 (Width) | 15.0 cm |
| Dimension 3 (Depth) | 14.2 cm |
| Weight | 2202 g |
| Measuring Remarks | N/A |
| Materials | Ceramic--Terracotta |
| Manufacturing Processes | Handbuilding, Firing, Incising |
Research Remarks
| Description | HONORING THE DECEASED: Portraits of the deceased are sculpted in ceramic by Akan women. The portraits may be just the head, a face sculpted onto a pottery lid or vessel, or a whole body, sometimes seated. The portraits of the deceased are placed in a sacred grove near the village but separate from the actual graves, where they are cared for by descendents. (6) The knots on the head of this funerary sculpture may represent the hair style of the deceased. Ashanti. 72.7.6. |
|---|---|
| Published Description | Under Review |
| Bibliography | Vogel, Susan. For Spirits and Kings. Metropolitan Museum of Art: 1981. pp. 78-81. |
Artifact History
| Credit Line/Dedication | Gift of Norman and Carole Thomas |
|---|---|
| Reproduction | no |
Contact
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