Gold Weight in the Form of a Bird on Truncated Pyramid

Akan group, Ghana or, Côte d'Ivoire, African

1875 - 1925

  • Titles Gold Weight in the Form of a Bird on Truncated Pyramid (Descriptive)
  • Medium brass
  • Dimensions Overall: 1 1/2 x 1 1/4 in. (3.8 x 3.2 cm)
  • Credit Line Gift of Ellen and Fred Elsas, 1986.772.2
  • Work Type gold weight
  • Classification Tools & Equipment

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female
Ovoid vessel with dark brown patina has narrow, short neck with flared rim; shoulder of jar divided into triangular sections with raised ridges; each triangle has raised circle with cross inside. Bottom half of vessel has raised, curved lines descending below each triangle.
Standing female figure with flexed knees, arms bent, resting on abdomen, wearing small cap, earrings, and with diamond-shaped mark on forehead. Nails and blades protruding from breasts and front of torso, and holes remaining where some nails removed; umbilical area has small animal skull covered over with organic material. Large nail protruding from back of figure, which is split along the spine, from neck to buttocks.
Marriage Blanket, Ndebele people, South Africa, African, Middleburg wool blanket, glass beads