| Material Information |
| |
Title: |
Seated Female Figure (esi mansa) |
| |
Physical Description: |
Wood, paint, patina |
| |
Creator: |
Akan People (Fante) |
| |
Donor: |
McGalliard, Rod ( donor ) |
| Subjects |
| |
Subject: |
Exhibition -- Between the Beads: Reading African Beadwork |
| |
Spatial Coverage: |
Africa -- Ghana |
| Notes |
| |
Abstract: |
Fante society is matrilineal and most of Fante art focuses on motherhood. Figures seated on a ceremonial stool are known as Esi Mansa, meaning “Esi’s third child.” Esi Mansa figures are placed on shrines where they receive offerings to ensure continuity and well-being of the lineage. The imported glass beaded necklace and waist beads on this example were given to honor and embellish the figures, but the yellow multi-stranded waist beads on both the mother and child, indicating that both are female, remind us that Fante parents fervently hope to have a daughter to carry on the family name. The white beaded necklace serves as a symbol of spiritual purity. |
| Record Information |
| |
Bibliographic ID: |
UF00083046 |
| |
Volume ID: |
VID00001 |
| |
Source Institution: |
Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art |
| |
Holding Location: |
Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art |
| |
Rights Management: |
All rights reserved by the source institution and holding location. |
| |
Resource Identifier: |
1991.27.32 |
|
RSS
