Adangbe Bone Fetish Figure, Based

Splashed in electric blue, wrapped at the waist with cord, and standing firm on a block of weathered wood.

This fetish figure is Adangbe, from Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is carved wood, pigment and bone. Power figures along the Ghanaian coast and beyond were generally activated with added materials. Here a standing figure with a rounded head and full lips has arms held at its sides. A broad, flat bone is bound to its chest with twisted cord, and the surface is crusted with chalky white and vivid blue pigment. It is mounted on a stand. It is 5.75 inches wide, 5 deep and 19.25 high.

Clearly someone had high expectations of it.