An Agni fertility sculpture, Ivory Coast, Bougouanou region. Certificate of origin and provenance.

“Among the Agni people of Côte d’Ivoire, fertility sculptures serve a dual function as both sacred and aesthetic objects. These wooden figures, often depicting serene female forms with accentuated breasts, rounded abdomens, and elaborate coiffures, are deeply tied to Akan conceptions of beauty, motherhood, and spiritual continuity. The Agni, like their Baule and Ashanti counterparts, view fertility not only as a biological process but as a divine blessing mediated by ancestral spirits and ritual specialists. Such sculptures are frequently kept in household shrines, where they receive offerings and prayers from women seeking children. In certain rituals, these figures are treated with medicinal substances and carried in ceremonial processions to invoke the favor of spiritual forces. Their stylistic elegance, marked by intricate scarification and polished surfaces, underscores the belief that physical beauty reflects inner virtue and spiritual well-being. The continued production of these figures, even in contemporary settings, illustrates their enduring role in Agni religious and artistic traditions.”

— Vogel, S. M. (1997). Baule: African Art, Western Eyes. Yale U niversity Press, p. 142.

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Height: 38 cm
Weight: 430 g