A FINE ASHANTI BRASS VESSEL AND COVER, kuduo

Property from the Estate of William Kohler

Details

A FINE ASHANTI BRASS VESSEL AND COVER, kuduo
Of cylindrical form, the cover with a crocodile cast in high relief, with upturned snout, flanked by loops for attachment of handles, a looped handle on its back, incised circlets about the body, the sides with two padlocks cast in relief, bands of zigzag ornament about the border, on pierced circular base
6¾in. (17cm.) diam.

Provenance

Charles Ratton, Paris
Pace Gallery, New York

Lot Essay

Cf. Cole and Ross, 1977, p.68. fig.141 for a similar vessel taken from Kumasi circa 1896 by T Taylor-Smith. The authors point out that fetters and locks are the only figurative elements occuring with some regularity on the sides of these vessels perhaps symbolizing the binding of the owner's soul to the vessel