Accession Number1998/1.123A
TitleVessel
Artist(s)AkanArtist NationalityAkan (culture or style)Object Creation Date19th centuryMedium & SupportbronzeDimensions 10 5/8 in x 9 7/16 in x 7 1/2 in (27 cm x 24 cm x 19 cm)
Credit LineGift of Susan B. and John F. Ullrich
Subject matterKuduo, cast vessels created by Akan-speaking peoples of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, have been made in various forms ranging from simple open vessels to those with intricately decorated lids. These vessels were used in a variety of ways that connected them to their owner's
kra, often translated as 'soul' or 'spirit'. Often owned by elite individuals in the community,
kuduo were also used to hold important items like precious beads, gold nuggets, and gold-dust. Upon the death of an imporant person, their
kuduo was sometimes buried with them. Some vessels were also placed with blackened ancestral stools, where offerings of food and drink were made. The scene atop this vessel may be related to a proverb, as two seated figures, perhaps rulers, sit facing one another.
References:
McLeod, Malcolm D. 1981.
The Asante. London: British Museum Publications Ltd.
Physical DescriptionCast vessel with a round body attached to a rectangular base by a short, spiral column. The body is decorated with figures of turtles, crocodiles, and fish. There are also small spirals across the vessel body. Near the top are two small, round handles.
Primary Object Classification Metalwork Primary Object TypevesselCollection AreaAfricanRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
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Keywords
ancestors
ceremonial vessels
funerary objects
shrines (structures)
social status
souls