Wooden flutes carved into anthropomorphic forms. Finely decorated spoons used for measuring the precious gold dust of the Akan. A rare game board from Benin, in which the inclusion of two carved leopards at each end display an interplay between practicality and an imaginative sculptural creation.

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For objects used in ceremonial occasions, determinations of beauty go beyond the visual – overlapping with an object’s meaning in its particular traditional context. Utilitarian objects, from baskets and cups to headrests, were made with great care to beautify everyday life as well as enhance the status of prominent members of the society.

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This exhibition invites you to join us in celebrating the beauty of these objects, and also, gain an insight into what these pieces meant to the people who created them.

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