GHANA Ashanti wooden doll. H. 30 cm. A powerful symbol with magico-religious virtues of protection and fertility, the boldly stylized Akwaba doll was traditionally worn on women's belts in Ghana. The ringed neck, a distinctive sign of beauty among the Ashanti ethnic group, heralds a flattened, circular, disc-shaped face with minimalist features. The softness of the facial features, skilfully accentuated by the delicacy of the clean lines; the fine, linear nasal bridge, linked to the delicate, slightly arched superciliary arches treated in slight relief. The whole is enhanced by a lighter, almost honey-toned patina, attesting to multiple past rubbings. The overall effect surrounds and magnifies the gaze, signified by a hollowed, round, slightly tapered contour. The cylindrical, lanky body tapers to the neck, the schematic arms, carried in a cross, are deployed horizontally, open to reveal a generous, firm conical chest whose extremities, with their lighter patina, attest to past rubbing. The rear cap features a rare engraved decoration. Above a horizontal frieze of incised lines, two figures appear in movement, suggested by the bending of knees and arms. Dark brown patina, with lighter tones due to age-old, repeated use. Provenance : - Probably acquired from Galerie du Scorpion, Francine Bourla. - French private collection. Related items: - LOT 89, CHRISTIE'S, PARIS - APRIL 30. 2024 ESTIMATE : 1 000 - 2 000 EUR SOLD : 8 820 EUR - LOT 98, BONHAMS, NEW YORK - APRIL 27 2023 ESTIMATE : 1500-2000 USD SOLD : 1530 USD - LOT 12, LEMPERTZ, BRUSSELS - JANUARY 31 2024 ESTIMATE : 800-1200 EUR SOLD : 816 EUR - LOT 68, BEAUSSANT & LEFEVRE, PARIS - DEC. 8, 2023 ESTIMATE: 800-1,500 EUR SOLD : 2112 EUR