Warning to women who threaten the family, flocks, or garden.

Object Title

Object ID

AR_0001_03_0009

Created By

Lobi artisans

Date

1920-1940

Owned By

Florida A&M University Meek-Eaton Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum

Medium

wood

Dimensions

H x W: 72cm x 22cm I 28.3" x 8.7"

Description

Seen from the back, the woman is not visible at all, appearing only as a post or tree trunk. Approaching from the right side the spirit gives the impression of a healthy woman. However, the warning is clear when the left side is revealed to be completely eviscerated, down to the bone. There is nothing subtle about this spirit and the warning it represents.
One can easily speculate about the shock effect on a trespasser confronting the piece for the first time.

Object Notes

The back of the piece appears as a tree trunk, while on the other side, half the woman's face is eviscerated to the bone.

Note the teeth of this carving are nearly identical to the teeth of the 'Protector of the crops' suggesting the same artisan created both pieces.

Subject Of

Field Spirits of the Fante

Placed Used

Ghana, Africa

Collection Title

Field Spirits of the Fante

Classification

African Artifacts and Objects

Topic

Agriculture
Labor
Spirituality
Superstitions
African Culture
Indigenous Religion
Farming

Credit Line

Collection of the Meek-Eaton Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum, Gift of Nana Araba Apt, Marian Sylvia Horowitz, and Richard Douglas, Ph.D.

Restrictions and Rights

All rights reserved. The use of any part of these objects and photographs transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system without the prior written consent of MEBA is an infringement of the copyright law.

Photograph Rights Holder

Spatial Coverage

en On Display

Title

AR_0001_03_0009

Item sets

Field Spirits of the Fante Collection