Page 2.

  (Item no.5)
  DESCRIPTION: Carved wooden statue of pregnant Zaire woman.

  SIZE: (H) 41cm (W) Base width 8cm.
  MATERIAL: Dark wood.
  APPROXIMATE AGE: Very old, fair condition.
  ORIGIN: Zaire: Equatorial province.

COMMENTS: Important to note is the figure sculptured on her brow: The feminine eye of wisdom. The ancient africans believed that the person has three eyes. With his two physical eyes, the person sees the physical world. With the "third" eye, women especially, see beyond physical realities, and looks at the inner world of the spirit. Just as the Feminine Principal gives birth to the human being in the physical world, the Feminine Principal of the spirit gives birth to all forms of creation.

  (Item no.6)
  DESCRIPTION: Carved wooden fertility doll.

  SIZE: (H) 58cm (W) Base width 18cm / head width 24cm.
  MATERIAL: Mixed materials, wood, copper and beads.
  APPROXIMATE AGE: Very old.
  ORIGIN: Ghana, Ashanti tribe.

COMMENTS: A fertility doll is usually a small highly stylized "doll" called Akuaba with a flat head attached to a cylindrical body with stumpy protrusions representing outstretched arms. Girls carried these dolls thrust into the backs of their waistclothes much in the same way as Ashanti mothers carried their small children. According to the legend, as I know it, this very ancient artifact is the equivalent of our modern hormonal armamentarium. Indeed, it has to be placed in the bedroom. If it looks at the candidate, conception is guaranteed. If it turns its back, contraception is assured.

Some years ago a pharmaceutical firm in South Africa made use of these ideas to advertise a fertility medication and produced copies of these statuettes (which I have) including a miniature one to be included in a womans personal luggage and to be used while travelling.

  (Item no.7)
  DESCRIPTION: Carved wooden fertility doll.

  SIZE: (H) 33cm (W) Base width 5cm / head width 13cm.
  MATERIAL: Wood.
  APPROXIMATE AGE: Unknown.
  ORIGIN: Ghana, Ashanti tribe.

COMMENTS: Another fertility doll typical of the not so well known Ashunti figure carvings.

  (Item no.8)
  DESCRIPTION: Carved wooden statue of a fertility doll.

  SIZE: (H) 38cm (W) Base width 7cm / head width 15cm.
  MATERIAL: Light wood.
  APPROXIMATE AGE: Unknown, in good condition.
  ORIGIN: Ghana, Ashanti tribe.

COMMENTS: Very rough work, looks to be incomplete.

  (Item no.9)
  DESCRIPTION: Carved wooden statue of a pregnant Zaire woman.

  SIZE: (H) 55cm (W) Base width 9cm.
  MATERIAL: Light wood.
  APPROXIMATE AGE: 70 - 80 years, in good condition.
  ORIGIN: Zaire: Equatorial Province.

COMMENTS: To note: (1) The swollen external genitals typical of the advanced pregnancy. (2) The hairstyle which is divided in three front to back ridges and falling far down the back in a long tress. (3) The usual customary scarification.