Expertly crafted and beautifully painted, coffins from Ghana called 'fantasy coffins'.
Kane Kwei's workshop manufactures hundreds of coffins every year for the Ga community, the dominant ethnic group in the region surrounding the capital, Accra. These coffins glorify an ancestor by representing their earthly success. They symbolise the profession or the aspirations of the deceased and are typically in the shapes of birds, fish, limousines and aeroplanes.
Teshi, Ghana. Made in the mid-1990s in the workshop of Kane Kwei. Painted timber with fabric lining. A merchant or wealthy motorist would use this type of coffin. Courtesy of Ray Hughes
Teshi, Ghana. Made in the mid-1990s in the workshop of Kane Kwei. Painted timber with fabric lining. A farmer would use this type of coffin. Courtesy of Ray Hughes
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2008
