A Fante Fertility Figure, "akua'ba" Lot n° 42

Figure, "akuaba Fante, Ghana Mit Sockel / with base Wood, glass beads. H 28 cm. Provenance: - Swiss private collection. - Patrick Fröhlich Gallery, Patrick Fröhlich, Zurich, Switzerland. - Christian Zingg (1956-2023), La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland (2020). An expertise of Galerie Patrick Fröhlich will be handed over to the buyer. Akua-mma figures (singular "akua'ba") were venerated by women so that their desire to have children would come true. They were cared for in shrines and worn on the back in a wraparound dress. This custom goes back to an Akan legend in which a priest ordered the infertile young woman named Akua to have a wooden child (ba) carved so that her wish for a child would come true. He further recommended that she should take care of this doll as if it were her real child, which Akua did. The unavoidable mockery of the villagers was short-lived, for she gave birth to a beautiful daughter shortly thereafter. After a birth, the figure continues to be cared for by the owner and is eventually inherited. Consequently, the figure is a symbol of the continuity of the family and fertility. Further reading: Cole, Herbert M. / Ross, Doran H. (1977). The Arts of Ghana. Los Angeles: University of California. --------------------------------------------------------------- Described by Patrick Fröhlich as follows: "This Fante doll is a lovely object. Notable are the glass beads that adorn the body and its beautiful patina that originates from long in situ handling. The doll further has also all the formal qualities sought after in the dolls made by the Fante people, such as the wonderfully elongated head." --------------------------------------------------------------- Homage to Christian Zingg After his studies at the University of Neuchâtel, Christian Zingg (1956-2023) embarked on a career as a mathematics and physics teacher in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The overwhelming number of his former students and colleagues who attended his funeral shows the extent to which he was appreciated as a teacher there. His interest in art and its history showed itself in various directions: At the height of his career, he purchased the Villa Jaquemet in his hometown, built by Le Corbusier in 1908. Before that, Christian had embarked on a long journey as a collector, initially turning to ancient coins. As a scientist who wanted to get to the bottom of things, he quickly trained in reading coin inscriptions and eventually became a specialist in Roman numismatics. Among other things, he co-authored the 468-page work "Les empereurs romains," which was published in 1994 and reprinted in 2009. Due to health problems, he decided to retire early and devote himself to his family and his passions. With a marked generosity towards his relatives and friends and an always open mind to new cultural horizons, he had started in 2016 with a collection of African art that very quickly led him, in his unquenchable thirst for knowledge, to seek information from the best sources, build a library, browse museums and visit auctions and fairs, not forgetting the Puces de Lyon, where he loved to stroll in search of unique finds. His passion never left him until the last moment, not even when he was lying in bed not far from his home, wishing that his relatives would bring him some of his favorite pieces, which he found difficult to part with. (François Mottas) CHF 300 / 600 The condition (wear, eventual cracks, tear, other imperfections and the effects of aging etc. if applicable) of this lot is as visible on the multiple photos we have uploaded for your documentation. Please feel free to contact Hammer Auctions for all questions you might have regarding this lot (info@hammerauktionen.ch). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Hammer Auctions shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. In the rare event that the item did not conform to the lot description in the sale, Hammer Auctions is here to help. Buyers may return the item for a full refund provided you notify Hammer Auctions within 5 days of receiving the item. ------------------------------------ The condition (any wear, signs of use, cracks, any other deterioration and the signs of age etc.) of this lot can be seen in the photos we have uploaded for your documentation. Hammer Auctions will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this item (info@hammerauktionen.ch). The information about the condition of the objects, which was given out of relevance to the interested parties, is only an opinion and should not be considered as a statement of fact