An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Memorial head (nsodie)late 1600s-early 1700s
Before they died, Akan royal family members commissioned terracotta portraits, including heads like this one, from female artists. After royal burials, these idealized substitutes were placed in sacred groves outside the village where they were the focus of periodic libations, offerings, and prayers. The knobs on the head imitate a once popular male hairstyle having a tufted pattern.
The woman who sculpted this head did so without making a sketch, working from her memory of the subject.
Terracotta
Overall: 19.1 x 13.6 x 15.5 cm (7 1/2 x 5 3/8 x 6 1/8 in.)
Edwin R. and Harriet Pelton Perkins Memorial Fund
In the embrace of history, deep within the heart of the Akan people, a sacred tradition unfolded before the eyes of those who dared to remember. Long ago, as the dusk softly fell over the lands, the royal family, adorned in their resplendent clothing, sought to immortalize their lineage. It was not merely for preservation; rather, it was an act of reverence, a way to connect with the essence of those who had transcended the earthly realm.
With great care and intention, they turned to the skilled hands of female artists, whose fingers danced over the cool, yielding terracotta. Each portrait crafted was not just a mere likeness; it was a heartfelt tribute, a head held high, swelling with the pride and legacy of a family. These idealized faces, capturing both strength and grace, bore the weight of history and culture, telling stories that words could barely encapsulate.
Once the time came for royal burials, these portraits, worthy of their royal subjects, were placed lovingly within sacred groves that stood like guardians against the passage of time. Here, amidst rustling leaves and the soft whispers of the wind, they would become the focal point of devotion. Each portrait was treated with a loving reverence; the community would gather to offer libations, to make offerings, and to weave prayers that spiraled into the serene sky, creating a connection between this world and the next.
A closer look reveals nuances in their design — the knobs adorning the heads echoing an era when a particular male hairstyle was in vogue, a tufted pattern that spoke of identity and cultural heritage. In all of this, the portraits resonate, capturing not just faces, but lives lived, stories shared, and wisdom passed down through the generations. The terracotta doesn’t just hold shape; it holds memory, a peaceful reminder of the sacred bond between the living and the departed. Each sculpture stands proudly in its grove, waiting, listening, reminding all who pass by to celebrate the stories engraved in clay, stories etched in time.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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