Gold Weight with Geometric Design

Asante people, Ghana, African

19th-20th century

  • Titles Gold Weight with Geometric Design (Descriptive)
  • Medium cast metal
  • Dimensions 1 1/8 x 1 x 1/4 in. (2.9 x 2.5 x 0.6 cm)
  • Credit Line Gift of Drs. Noble and Jean Endicott, 1991.1134.5
  • Work Type gold weight
  • Classification Tools & Equipment

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Brown ovoid jar with single ear-shaped handle has short, narrow vertical foot and slightly flared lip. Body of jar has texture from impressed cord and modeled lizard form.
Helmet mask composed of long plank, heavy, hemispherical brow ridge, and tall, vertical, jointed horns. Small square eyes just below brow ridge on either side of the nose are pierced through the plank. Plank divided vertically by raised ridge extending from nose to raised umbilicus, located in bottom third of mask. No mouth is evident. Mask bears traces of symmetrical geometric patterns in red, black and white pigments. A sacred mask owned and worn solely by blacksmiths among the Bobo people; associated with the cult of Dwo.
Figure of a sacred, crouching Ibis, the body in painted wood and the head, long and curved neck, extended beak, bent legs, and feet in cast bronze with green patina.
Wooden tubular pipe with small brass pendant attachment at mouthpiece end; inlaid with bands of silver filament and tiny inlaid brass wire rings filled in with resin