disc pendant;
soul disc
- Museum number
- Af1900,0427.29
- Title
- Series: Asante Gold
- Description
-
Lost wax casting in gold of a uni-facial disc pendant (akrafokonmu) with a central raised boss and open-work decoration. The round solid plain boss is surrounded by a number of concentric circles, the first of which has a plain solid centre but a triangular open-work periphery. The main ground consists of a sun-burst motif, the extended rays of which are contained by a regular undulating series of arches. The outermost circle consists of a void sub-divided by a series of evenly-spaced vertical gold threads. The rim has been folded over and two suspension lugs are situated equi-distant to two half discs.
- Production date
- 19thC
- Dimensions
-
Height: 6.30 centimetres
-
Weight: 11.92 grammes
-
Width: 6.20 centimetres
-
Depth: 0.90 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- The overall decorative schema bears a strong resemblance to architectural ornament, such as mud-wall reliefs used as decorations on shrine or house walls as far away as Zaria, Nigeria. Such elaborate decorations seem to derive from Islamic pattern.
This disc pendant was created using a mould over which the boss was modelled using wax and thin strips of wax were laid over the surface to create the decorative elements and overall shape of the disc. This was a near perfect casting.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2018,15 Apr-12 Aug, Dallas, USA, Dallas Museum of Art, The Power of Gold: Asante Gold Regalia from Ghana
- Condition
- Good. There are traces of red clay (inchuma) in the grooves of one of the hemispheres.
- Acquisition date
- 1900
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1900,0427.29
