West African fertility best doll/fan combo (Asante Akua'ba)

This offering is an example of functional art. Its obvious use is as a fan; when not being used for that purpose, though, the piece can serve as a decorative accent to a room.

The figure itself is a so-called "fertility doll" (akua'ba being its name among the Asante and Fante people of Ghana) because of its use by pregnant women as an aid in delivering well-formed babies.

Of course, the river grass fan best attached to the akua'ba's disc-like head is a modern innovation; however, the seed bead and cowrie necklace and earrings are traditional.

Dimensions: 10 1/2" h., 12" w.