Sale 213 Lot 218

Four West African Sculptures This collection features four distinct African sculptures, primarily representing West African traditions and varying widely in material and form. The largest piece is an Ashanti Akua'ba fertility doll from Ghana, identifiable by its iconic flattened, disc-shaped head, ringed neck, and horizontal arms. To its right stands a slingshot handle typical of Baule or Lobi artistry. In the foreground is a textured ceramic or stone head, possibly originating from the Bura or Komaland regions, characterized by bold, linear facial markings. Finally, the small metal grouping on the far right appears to be a Dogon bronze casting, depicting stylized, elongated figures that reflect the spiritual and ancestral themes common in Malian art. Height ( Ashanti Akua'ba fertility doll):12.75 inches (including base)
$150-200

PROVENANCE: Present lot was acquired by Bennett Schiff (1920-2014), a member of the U.S. Foreign Service who served as press attaché in Nicosia, Cyprus, and Tehran from 1962 until 1967. He moved to Washington, DC, in 1967 to work as a consultant to the Peace Corps, the Office of Economic Opportunity, the Ford Foundation, the Inter-American Foundation, and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.