An Exceptional Akan Brass Object, Ghana

of hollowed hemispeherical form, the semispherical object decorated with bands of incised geometric and arabesque design, the whole surmounted by a medial ridge with fifteen circular bells on top; aged metal patina with green and blue oxidation.

Acquired by the present owner in Ouagadougou, 1969

very good condition overall; for an object of this age and rarity, minor dents, nicks and scratches as seen on photographs; aged metal patina with gree and blue oxidation.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

A Northern Akan ritual vessel or helmet, Ghana, 16^th to 18^th century

This exceptionally rare if not unique brass casting has been identified as either a helmet or a ritual vessel, although the latter is more likely. Its surface design of medallions framed by borders that form a continuous loop around the vessel separated by rows of hooked bars emulating Arabic script firmly place this object within the corpus of Akan ritual containers called kuduo dating from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries. As considered in detail by Silverman (in Ross and Garrard 1983: 10 et seq.), this tradition was inspired by fourteenth and fifteenth century Arabic inscribed Islamic metalwork from the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt (1250-1517 CE). Until about twenty years ago, there were at least six Mamluk basins in shrine contexts among the northern Akan that were originally traded across the Sahara from North Africa. These basins, recognized as both exceptionally valuable and spiritually potent, were quickly assimilated into Akan culture and subsequently influenced local casting traditions.

The shape of the present object suggests that it might have been conceptualized as a skeuomorph of a hemispherical gourd, a common drinking vessel among the northern Akan in the past. Garrard (in Ross and Garrard 1983: 38-39) documents a globular kuduo that was "modeled over a calabash", and Silverman (loc. cit.: 16 and 18) identifies the Mamluk or Near Eastern derived "cup-bowl kuduo" as one of the principal types, suggesting precedents for these objects serving as drinking or offering vessels. Significantly, silver and gold ornamented gourds still serve as ritual regalia in several Asante states. The three crotal bells cast integrally on the kuduo discussed by Garrard may relate to the line of crotals along the median ridge of the present lot, both perhaps intended to call attention to a ceremonial event.

Doran H. Ross