disc pendant;
soul disc(?)
- Museum number
- Af1925,1024.1
- Title
- Series: Asante Gold
- Description
-
Lost wax casting in gold of a large uni-facial disc pendant (akrafokonmu) with a raised dome-shaped boss and decorated with repoussé work. The domed boss is surrounded by a sun-burst pattern with nine rays extending outwards towards the rim. Interspersed between the rays is a continuous undulating line of over-arching foliate motifs consisting of a rosette above a five leafed sprig. This decoration is contained within two concentric circles decorated with intersecting plain and lined triangles which are encompassed by another concentric circle decorated with a continuous undulating wavy line. The rim of the disc consists of a band of incised interlace. There are two suspension lugs soldered to the reverse of the disc.
- Production date
-
19thC (?)
-
20thC (?)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 21.50 centimetres
-
Weight: 196.72 grammes
-
Width: 21.50 centimetres
-
Depth: 1.60 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- This is by far the largest disc in the British Museum’s collection. Some think it has been machine-made using a press? The regularity of the patterns and the uniform nature of the decoration and its application supports this hypothesis. It has also been suggested that this was a presentation piece presented by Europeans to an unknown Gold Coast chief ?
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.
The sun-burst pattern has been punched out from behind using a die stamp. The two suspension lugs were cast as a single flat ridged strip which has been cut in half and bent to shape before being soldered to the reverse of the disc.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
1980 Sept., London, BM, Asante: Kingdom of Gold
- Condition
- Fair. There is a split of approx 2cms in length which follows the contour of the outermost concentric circle.
- Acquisition date
- 1925
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1925,1024.1
