bracelet;
bead
- Museum number
- Af1896,0512.45
- Title
- Series: Asante Gold
- Description
-
Bracelet (suman); composed of glass and cast gold beads: 1 black glass cylinder bead; 3 green glass cylinder beads with reddish/brown horizontal stripes;1 yellow glass bead, of irregular shape;1 lost-wax cast gold disc bead (Baule style) with circular hole in the centre;1 lost-wax cast equal-armed cross bead; 3 lost-wax cast beads (mankata) decorated with raised circle and dot patterns; 5 lost-wax cast conjoined spherical beads; 1 plain lost-wax cast square bead. All threaded on to a single twisted thread made of stiff vegetable fibre cord which is pale yellow in colour. The ends are bound together in an elaborate knot which forms a decorative element having been coiled around itself to create a type of elongated tassel.
- Production date
- 1850-1896 (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 0.70 centimetres
-
Weight: 6.24 grammes
-
Width: 4.80 centimetres
-
Depth: 6 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Bracelets consisting of an apparently random assortment of glass beads and gold ornaments were worn by Asante rulers, chiefs, queen mothers and other members of the elite. The gold ornaments were amulets that provided protection. Bracelets of similar form, but without the gold ornaments were worn by non-royals.
The small size of this item strongly indicates that it was designed to be worn by a baby/child (possibly a royal child?) in order to provide spiritual protection and signify their royal status.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Good.
- Associated events
- Associated Event: Anglo-Asante War 1895-6
- Acquisition date
- 1896
- Acquisition notes
- Taken from the royal palace in Kumase by British troops during the Anglo-Asante war, 1895-6. Formed part of the official government loot. Recorded as 'From King Prempeh's "palace"'.
Part of a collection donated to the Museum by the Gold Coast Government in 1896.
See Collection File: Af1896,0512.1-240.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1896,0512.45
