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Asante linguist staff finial (okyeame poma). Ghana, early 20th century. Carved wood, hammered gold foil. 15.5 h × 6.5 w × 6 d in (39 × 17 × 15 cm). A number of okyeame poma represent messages of cooperative behavior within the state and between the King and his subjects. For example two men helping each other with climbing a tree or working may represent a saying “If your intentions are good people will help.” Cooperation leads to success. #asante #akan #ghana #mooscollection

Asante linguist staff finial (okyeame poma).
Ghana, early 20th century. Carved wood, hammered gold foil. 15.5 h × 6.5 w × 6 d in (39 × 17 × 15 cm).

“If your intentions are good people will help.” Cooperation leads to success.”

Akan or Baule court regalia footwear, Côte d'Ivoire. Wood covered with gold foil, textile, 28cm. Like the two Baule pith helmets in the collection, this pair of intricately carved courtly footwear are true skeuomorphs-objects in the same shapes as the originals, yet carefully carved from wood.

A beautiful portrait of three young ladies- an original silver gelatin print by Seydou Keïta, Bamako, Mali 1956. Two of the subjects are wearing an early fashion design of Vlisco’s “La Famille”, first introduced in 1952. 4.75” x 7”. Seydou Keïta’s stamp and date on reverse. #mooscollection

Baule double faced (Janus) heddle pulley from Côte d‘Ivoire, 15cm without base. It’s missing the inner wheel and spindle. Baule heddle pulleys are functional display objects used both as a tool on the loom to help ease the movement of the heddles when weaving, and also as prestige objects.

This is an unusual Asante gold weight of a grasshopper cast directly from nature. During this process, the grasshopper is directly embedded within the clay or moulding material with the attached wax sprue and cup (a way to get the metal to the grasshopper) and fired until the grasshopper's body shell is completely burned away leaving the hollow void in the shape of the insect. The metal is then poured into the hollow mould. Once cooled, the clay is carefully broken away and removed from the cast metal. In this example, the casting sprue and cup is still attached to the grasshopper casting which is typically cut off of the finished casting. Cast copper alloy with a beautiful encrusted patina. 1.625" H x 3" L, Ghana.

Asante gold weight of a grasshopper cast directly from nature…

This figure is displayed along with items of the Royal West African Frontier Force (R.W.A.F.F. Car badge specific to the Gold Coast and uniform buttons). Asante Prestige figure, Ghana. Wood covered with gold foil. 19 cm. Images of figures that display weapons and arms emphasizes the strength of the chief and his people and their superiority and readiness for war. This figure’s attire holds strong similarities to the uniforms worn by Ghanaian soldiers of the Royal West African Frontier Force during WWI/ WWII and after into the 1950s. It possibly represents an individual of high standing in the community that wanted to commemorate this important accomplishment and status in his life. Published: Lüthi, Werner & David, Jean (2009). Exhibition catalogue: Helvetic Gold Museum Burgdorf. Gold in West African Art. Zurich: Galerie Walu, p. 12 Exhibited: Helvetic Gold Museum Burgdorf (2009).#asante #akan #mooscollection

Asante Prestige figure, Ghana. Wood covered with gold foil. 19 cm. This figure is displayed along with items of the Royal West African Frontier Force (R.W.A.F.F. Car badge specific to the Gold Coast and uniform buttons).

Happy Chinese Lunar year of the snake! Baule cast gold alloy pendant of a coiled snake in fine wax thread technique. 3.9" L x 3" W. In Akan proverbs the coiled snake often are symbols of femininity and fertility. Ex Zemanek-Münster ex Roland Hartman ex René David ex Roger Bédiat #mooscollection

The icon of my collection. Akan cast gold pendant mask, Côte D’Ivoire/Ghana 9.70cm. From the estate of Olga Hirshhorn #mooscollection

Call me superstitious but I still give these spirit beings offerings when they enter the collection. I believe that such objects carry a lot of power within them and should be given the respect that was originally intended. The first is an intricately carved Baule “sika blawa” female figure. Carved wood, gold foil. Côte d’Ivoire. H 27.62cm. — Ex Swiss private collection, EX Jean Paul Delcourt, Abidjan. The second is another intricately carved Baule female figure “Sika Blawa” from Côte d’Ivoire, wood covered with gold foil 35.5 cm H. Ex René David. Displayed: Musée International du Golfe de Guinée, Lomé, Togo (2005-2011) #mooscollection #baule

The first is an intricately carved Baule “sika blawa” female figure. Carved wood, gold foil. Côte d’Ivoire. H 27.62cm. — Ex Swiss private collection, EX Jean Paul Delcourt, Abidjan. The second is another intricately carved Baule female figure “Sika Blawa”, wood covered with gold foil 35.5 cm H…

A group of Akan pendants from a period when great wealth was brought to individuals in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire with the introduction of the crop Cocoa. In Ghana, cocoa was so prosperous, it was often referred to as “sika dua” or “gold tree” (money tree). The imagery is of cocoa pods and tools used in the cultivation, harvesting, and preparation of cocoa (such as the bill hook, cocoa harvesting knife with its curved blade, and a cutlass). As prestige jewellery items, they display the success and source of the individual’s wealth. #mooscollection #akan

A group of Akan pendants from a period when great wealth was brought to individuals in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire with the introduction of the crop Cocoa…

Asante regalia #mooscollection #asante #akan

Although these beautiful and intricately cast beads were collected in Ghana, the design and technique points to the Baule or Lagoons goldsmiths of Côte d’Ivoire. That said, similar designs have been produced in the neighboring coastal Akan states of Ghana. The rectangular beads each have a name according to the design pattern with some referred to as “srala” or “bamboo door”, “Alondra” or “chicken feather”, “alekue” or “the cups on an awale board”, “Allie waka” or “knife handle”, “akwatika sinbui” or “the back of the tortoise”, “jomo owie” or “dog’s bone”, “besin besin” or “back to back”, and “kokoyaka” or “taro roots” or “taro foot”. “Shield” is another common design for the rectangular beads. The largest of these rectangular beads is 6cm x 5cm and the smallest is 4cm x 3cm. The bi-conical bead (8cm L with round bead) hangs to the back and terminates with a round bell shaped bead. Strung with carnelian stone beads collected in Bondoukou, Côte d’Ivoire. #mooscollection

Although these beautiful and intricately cast beads were collected in Ghana, the design and technique points to the Baule or Lagoons goldsmiths of Côte d’Ivoire. That said, similar designs have been produced in the neighboring coastal Akan states of Ghana…

Remembrance. Akan memorial portraits.
#mooscollection #akan

Another Baule or Akan “Abotire” chief/Dignitary’s head band. This example is missing one of its “bongo horns” ornamental amulet on the right side. Côte d’Ivoire. Felt, fabric, wood, gold foil. #mooscollection #akan #baule

A Baule or Akan chief’s crown from Côte d’Ivoire. Fabric, wood covered with gold leaf. The chief crowns and other headwear, aside from the abotire are in the category “kye”. Similar to the abotire the entire top is enclosed and is covered with amulets made of wood and gold foil. #mooscollection

An exceptional Akan necklace from Ghana/ Côte D’Ivoire consisting of gold beads (10K-18K) with a downward pointing gold alloy crescent moon shaped pendant with spikes or rays at the top. Rare large glass Venetian cylindrical beads (1850-1920) alternate with the gold beads. The majority of the gold beads are cast with a few fabricated from sheet gold and formed and decorated with repoussé. Most notably are the two Akan images of human teeth, two natural gold nugget forms, sea shells, sun discs, and over 37 individual smaller gold beads in various forms. Necklace 30”. Pendant 4 3/4” L. Ex collection of Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao and Dr. Nii S. Quao. Dr. Arikana-Quao was the African Union’s Ambassador to the United States. #mooscollection

An exceptional Akan necklace from Ghana/ Côte D’Ivoire consisting of gold beads (10K-18K) with a downward pointing gold alloy crescent moon shaped pendant with spikes or rays at the top. Rare large glass Venetian cylindrical beads (1850-1920) alternate with the gold beads…

Asante Atuotumfoɔ (Gun bearers/ Bodyguards) #mooscollection #asante #akan

A beautifully cast silver Akan pendant. Côte d’Ivoire/Ghana. Radial sun motif with a central ancestral mask. It is a variant to the Akrafokonmu, or “soul washer’s” discs- often worn by individuals closest to the chief that are said to hold a part of the chief’s soul. (8,2 cm). EX Christie’s Paris, EX private American collection, EX Arts d’Afrique de la Collection de Madame Nelly van den Abbeele, June 12th, 2003 in Paris, EX Jan Dierickx, Brussels. Published: Bastin, M.-L., Utotombo, l’Art d’Afrique noire dans les collections privées belges Brussels, 1988, p.157, no.82. Exhibited: Arts d’Afrique, n. 456, Tervuren, 1963, Brussels, 1988, no.82. #mooscollection. First photo credit: Utotombo, l'Art d'Afrique noire dans les collections privées belges, Brussels, 1988. #akan

A beautifully cast silver Akan pendant. Côte d’Ivoire/Ghana. Radial sun motif with a central ancestral mask…

A small grouping #baule #Baoulé #akan #mooscollection

An Akan (Côte d’Ivoire/Ghana) gold/silver alloy demi-parure. This design was influenced by Victorian fashion. It consists of a necklace strung with numerous tubular beads and suspended triple spherical bead pendants, together with a matching pair of earrings. The interest in Victorian designs continued into modern times making the dating of such items more difficult. 19 inches long. The earrings measure approximately 1 3/4 inches long. A measured spectrum analysis was performed and concluded that it consists of 79.10% silver, 17.28% gold, and 3.62% copper. From the estate of Olga Hirshhorn #akan #mooscollection

An Akan (Côte d’Ivoire/Ghana) gold/silver alloy demi-parure. This design was influenced by Victorian fashion. 19 inches long. The earrings measure approximately 1 3/4 inches long. From the estate of Olga Hirshhorn.

Akan (MAMPRUSSI?) three-stranded chain with mudfish pendant, Ghana, cast silver alloy (chain 500. Pendant 700). 67g. 14.4” L, mudfish 3.5”. According to Doran Ross in The Arts of Ghana, a similar example of a cast silver mudfish amulet necklace with a similarly made chain is thought to be made for leaders of the MAMPRUSSI from the Northern regions of Ghana where it is predominately muslim and gold jewellery is forbidden by Islamic law. Although collected as an Akan piece, it may have had a northern origin or perhaps made for or traded to the Akan states. Associated proverb: “When the mudfish swallows anything, it does so for its master” (crocodile) that is, what is good for his subjects is good for the chief”. Provenance: Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, Germany, Roland Hartmann, St. Gallen, Switzerland (1922-2007), René David, Zurich Switzerland (1928-2015) #ghana #mooscollection

Akan (MAMPRUSSI?) three-stranded chain with mudfish pendant, Ghana, cast silver alloy (chain 500. Pendant 700). 67g. 14.4” L, mudfish 3.5”.

Asante items of the gold trade, displayed with natural gold nuggets from various locations. The scales (nsania) were used to weigh out gold with cast bronze “gold weights”. The two weights here are from natural, direct cast forms of a beetle and a crab claw. A gold dust box, “adaka” to the left was used to hold small amounts of gold dust and nuggets. The spoon “saawa” was used to measure out gold dust to the scales. This spoon is embossed with a crab image that has proverbs associated with gold. “Even the crab, that lives where the gold dust is, eats palm nuts. (Palm nuts are supposed to be the food of poor people), and “It is the crab that knows where the gold dust is to be found.” #mooscollection #akan #asante

Asante items of the gold trade, displayed with natural gold nuggets from various locations. The scales (nsania) were used to weigh out gold with cast bronze “gold weights”…

I believe this sculptural sword hilt represents a vulture or “Opete”. There are many Asante proverbs associated with the vulture and it also symbolizes self-begetting, self-creation, and self-birth. It is the animal that symbolizes Odomankoma, the Akan deity who created the world. Regardless which type of bird it represents, one proverb for a perched bird is: “Anoma anntu a, obua da”. Literally: If a bird does not fly, it goes to bed hungry. You must take action if you want to make a living. Wood covered with gold foil. Côte d’Ivoire or Ghana. #mooscollection #akan

Akan sculptural sword hilt. Wood, gold foil.

Two first edition books in the collection: Thomas Bowdich’s “Mission from Cape Coast Castle to Ashantee, with a Statistical Account of that Kingdom,” 1819. The top book is “The Downfall of Prempeh I, A diary of life with the native Levy in Ashanti 1895-1896”, 1896 by Robert Baden-Powell.

An exceptional Akan necklace from Ghana/ Côte D’Ivoire consisting of gold beads (10K-18K) with a downward pointing gold alloy crescent moon shaped pendant with spikes or rays at the top. Rare large glass Venetian cylindrical beads (1850-1920) alternate with the gold beads. The majority of the gold beads are cast with a few fabricated from sheet gold and formed and decorated with repoussé. Most notably are the two Akan images of human teeth, two natural gold nugget forms, sea shells, sun discs, and over 37 individual smaller gold beads in various forms. Necklace 30”. Pendant 4 3/4” L. Ex collection of Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao and Dr. Nii S. Quao. Dr. Arikana-Quao was the African Union’s Ambassador to the United States. #mooscollection

Asante chief’s ring “mpetea”, gold, Ghana. H 2.36”. One goldsmith in Kumasi named this ring as ahwehweba. Other people in Kumasi thought that it represented the proverb: Ti koro nko agyina. “One head does not make a council.” There should be consultation when an important decision is to be made.