32 - Commemorative head with a moon-like face

Commemorative head with a moon-like face Terracotta with brown and beige slip, showing signs of age. Akan, Ghana. 20 x 14.5 cm The face forms a broad disc tilted slightly upward, supported by a ringed neck with a flared base. The elongated eyes, the nose with open nostrils, and the oval mouth converge at the center of this surface. Concentric arcs, arranged across the forehead, the sides of the face, and the chin, follow its contours and lend it a distinctive graphic rhythm. The simplicity of the modeling highlights this interplay of curves and the serenity of the features. This work belongs to the tradition of Akan commemorative terracotta figures, which preserved the memory of high-ranking figures and their entourages. Gathered in sacred places, these effigies received offerings and maintained a connection with the ancestors. Comparative reference: University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, Commemorative Head, Akan, inv. 2003/2.53: similarities include the slightly tilted disc-shaped face, the ringed neck, and the arrangement of the facial features; the facial decoration differs.