finger-ring
- Museum number
- Af1901,0117.1
- Title
- Series: Asante Gold
- Description
-
Lost wax casting in gold of a finger-ring (frumepu, frumoampun) surmounted by an elaborate open-work domed bezel terminating in a small raised conical boss. The design of the bezel takes the form of a series of small discs, each one of which is decorated with five small dots arranged in a symmetrical pattern.
- Production date
- 19thC(late) (?)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 5 centimetres
-
Weight: 28.46 grammes
-
Width: 3.20 centimetres
-
Depth: 2.20 centimetres
- Curator's comments
-
Rings of this form were worn by Akan chiefs and the design is an old one. Its distinctive shape has been interpreted as being a bird's nest, referring to the idea that a chief will always return home just as a bird returns to its nest when it has been away. An alternative view is that the design is named after a strong-smelling white toadstool. Presumably there is, or was, some proverb relating to this toadstool that would explain its real significance as a ring motif.
-
Lost wax casting, the basic spherical form of the ring was made in a wax sheet to which small pieces were added.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
1995, London, Crafts Council, African Metals
- Condition
- Good.
- Acquisition date
- 1901
- Acquisition notes
- Register entry: 'Formerly belonging to Samory, the Mahdi of West Africa'. The ascription of the ring to Samory is hard to credit. Although he operated on the northern edge of Asante rule or influence it is unclear if he was ever sent gifts such as this from the Asantehene's court (personal communication, M D McLeod, May 2009).
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1901,0117.1
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: Af1974,Q.2914 (previously registered as [now deleted])
-
Miscellaneous number: Af1979,01.4653 (Previously registered as [now deleted])