Akua’mma (singular akua’ba) are stylized interpretations of ideal children. Desirable physical attributes such as a smooth, broad forehead and ringed neck are enhanced until they take on an abstract quality. Often both front and back of an akua’ba’s slender head are adorned with patterns that refer to marks of protection and beauty or serve as decoration. Perhaps it is the skillful and aesthetic manner in which the form of akua’mma have been pared down to essential elements that has led to their widespread replication. Akua’mma appear in paintings, jewelry and a range of arts from around the world. They are also produced in large numbers for the international market. Both the stunning Fante figure with rectangular head and the delicate Asante figure with white beads may have been carved by skilled artists for export.