This pot lid, made of bronze, was the property of the king or one of the members of his court, and was used for the commercial activity of the village. Gold (often gold dust) and precious objects were carefully preserved in these pots, which were covered by a decorated lid. This nicely engraved lid is in an excellent state of preservation. The Ashantis developed an art highly prized by kings, who used a golden stool as a symbol of power. The subsoil of their territory in Ghana is very rich in gold, and it was from this metal that a whole range of craft skills was developed, of which this magnificent lid depicting a figure wearing a traditional headdress is a witness that has endured through the ages.

Lost wax bronze - Ashanti, Ghana

Height 17.5 cm - 19th century or earlier Provenance 

Origin : private collection France