Lot Essay
The figure on a horse is probably a General, probably European. Horses were a great rarity in the South of Ghana so considerable status is implied.
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These striking Fante Asafo flags (lots 123-125) are particular to the culture on the coastline of Ghana, where the humorous designs were used to identify villages and convey messages. Fante warrior groups, known as Asafo, used flags in protecting their interests from rival villages and the Ashante people from the west, and later in festivals and ceremonies. The changing traditions of the flags reflect socio-political change in Ghana, from trade with the Portuguese in the 15th Century, to British colonial rule in the 19th (during which period the Union Jack often features), to independence in 1957 (after which the Ghanian tricolor flag is shown).
A FANTE ASAFO COTTON APPLIQUÉ FLAG ENTITLED 'FIRST COMPANY NO.1'
GHANA, MID-20TH CENTURY
Details
A FANTE ASAFO COTTON APPLIQUÉ FLAG ENTITLED 'FIRST COMPANY NO.1'
GHANA, MID-20TH CENTURY
With a flag to the top right corner, a man on horseback with sword, padlock and key and text, on a red ground with blue and white chevron border and tassels, later mounted on a canvas frame
54 ¼ in. (138 cm.) high; 73 ¼ in. (186 cm.) wide
GHANA, MID-20TH CENTURY
With a flag to the top right corner, a man on horseback with sword, padlock and key and text, on a red ground with blue and white chevron border and tassels, later mounted on a canvas frame
54 ¼ in. (138 cm.) high; 73 ¼ in. (186 cm.) wide
Provenance
With Peter Adler
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