Masculine head - Culture Agni-Krinjabo

Sculpture of a commemorative funeral nature. The head, in accordance with the Akan model on beauty, presents a marked lengthening, reinforced by the hairstyle -a kind of central bun around which three lines of plaits are arranged. The headdress, called mpsempese, was at its peak of popularity especially in the mid eighteenth century. The eyes are representd by a longitudinal incision, practically closed but prominent; the nose is straight and powerful and the mouth forms a slight smile. As is habitual, the neck is ringed, with seven folds of fat which reflect the high rank of the person represented. Although it is not a portrait some distinctive features of the deceased are included, such as the type of hairstyle or the scarifications -in the form of cowries, typical of the pieces found in Krinjabo-situated on the cheeks, temples and between the eyebrows. The piece belonged to he Helena Rubinstein collection.