Memorial Head
- Culture
- Akan artist
- Date
- 18th century
- Material
- Terracotta
- associated with
- Fomena, Ashanti region, Ghana, Africa
- Classification
- Ceramics, sculpture
- Collection
- Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 102
- Dimensions
- 11 3/8 x 7 3/8 x 5 in. (28.9 x 18.7 x 12.7 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Morton D. May
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 283:1982
NOTES
The broad forehead and arched eyebrows of this sculpture conveys nobility, while the carefully executed hairstyle signifies high status and courtly demeanor. This head was modeled only after the individual’s death. Consequently, the artist was challenged with the task of reproducing the deceased’s approximate likeness. The Akan made idealized portraits as memorials to important individuals.
Heads such as these would be installed, following funeral rites, in the "asensie," or “place of the pots,” outside of the village, where it could be periodically visited and honored. European visitors observed this type of terracotta sculpture among the Akan in the 17th century, and this sculptural tradition continued until at least the early 20th century.
Heads such as these would be installed, following funeral rites, in the "asensie," or “place of the pots,” outside of the village, where it could be periodically visited and honored. European visitors observed this type of terracotta sculpture among the Akan in the 17th century, and this sculptural tradition continued until at least the early 20th century.
Provenance
by 1974 - 1976
Karl-Heinz Krieg, Neuenkirchen, Germany [1]
1976 - 1982
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased from Karl-Heinz Krieg [2]
1982 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [3]
Notes:
[1] The main source for this provenance is the document authorizing Karl-Heinz Krieg to export a number of African objects, including 283:1982, out of Côte d' Ivoire. The document is dated January 5, 1974 and was issued by Abidjan's Minister of National Education working at the Centre des Sciences Humaines (Musee) [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[2] An invoice dated Janaury 30, 1976 from Karl-Heinz Krieg to Morton D. May documents the purchase of this object, listed as "Ashanti clay-head" [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[3] A letter dated November 29, 1982 from Morton D. May to James D. Burke, director of the Saint Louis Art Museum, includes the offer of this object as part of a larger donation [Director's Office, Donor Files, Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. Minutes of the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, December 17, 1982.
Karl-Heinz Krieg, Neuenkirchen, Germany [1]
1976 - 1982
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased from Karl-Heinz Krieg [2]
1982 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [3]
Notes:
[1] The main source for this provenance is the document authorizing Karl-Heinz Krieg to export a number of African objects, including 283:1982, out of Côte d' Ivoire. The document is dated January 5, 1974 and was issued by Abidjan's Minister of National Education working at the Centre des Sciences Humaines (Musee) [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[2] An invoice dated Janaury 30, 1976 from Karl-Heinz Krieg to Morton D. May documents the purchase of this object, listed as "Ashanti clay-head" [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[3] A letter dated November 29, 1982 from Morton D. May to James D. Burke, director of the Saint Louis Art Museum, includes the offer of this object as part of a larger donation [Director's Office, Donor Files, Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. Minutes of the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, December 17, 1982.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.