Primitive Art – Agni Fertility Doll – Female Figurine – African Art – Tribal Art

Circa 1900 / early 20th century

Ivory Coast – Agni (Akan) people

Private collection by bequest – Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne

A rare small female statuette carved from wood, attributed to the Agni people, a group belonging to the broader Akan cultural complex and primarily settled in southeastern Côte d’Ivoire.

The figure features a highly stylized composition, dominated by a large, ovoid head supported by a long, ringed neck. The body, deliberately compact, is rendered in a simplified manner, with the arms drawn back along the abdomen while the chest is distinctly accentuated.

The face displays a remarkable economy of form. The almond-shaped eyes are set on either side of a long, straight, and prominent nose, while the mouth—reduced to a geometric shape—reinforces the hieratic character of the depiction.

Fine incised scarifications mark the forehead and cheeks. These motifs play a key role in the sculptural composition of the face and constitute one of the statuette’s most characteristic features.

The long, ringed neck serves as a transition between the particularly well-developed head and the small body. This deliberate disproportion immediately draws the eye to the face and gives the figure a particularly expressive presence despite its small size.

The statuette rests on a notched monoxyl base, carved directly from the same piece of wood as the figure.

The wood retains a beautiful antique patina—brown and lustrous—which is particularly noticeable on the face and prominent features. Variations in the surface texture and signs of wear attest to the object’s prolonged handling.

An old handwritten label, still preserved beneath the base, bears the inscription: “Agni Doll 1900.” This historical notation provides an interesting insight into the collection’s history and the piece’s traditional attribution.

These small anthropomorphic figures are part of the statuary tradition of the Akan peoples of Côte d’Ivoire, in which female representations may be associated with the concepts of fertility, motherhood, and family lineage.

The particularly pronounced stylization of the head and body, the presence of scarifications, and the beautiful patina from use give this small figure a presence that is both archaic and highly graphic.

An interesting antique statuette, appealing for the simplicity of its construction, its expression, and above all for the preservation of its original collector’s label bearing the attribution “Agni Doll 1900.”

Condition: Original condition with visible cracks, chips, and damage, particularly on the head, shoulder, and base. Wear consistent with the piece’s age and handling. Very beautiful, old, glossy brown patina. Original handwritten label preserved beneath the base.

Dimensions:

Height: 13 cm

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