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Kuduo - Bronze Gold Dust Vessel, Asante People, Ghana, 1940s

About the Item

A beautiful bronze vessel, lidded pot on three legs, made by the Asante People, Ghana. Nicely cast lid with 4 reptiles and a bird. Several faces are depicted on the side of the vessel. The so-called "Gold Dust Pots" also known as Kuduo were once used by the Asante People to store valuable possessions, such as gold dust. Gold dust used to be used as currency by the Asante People. Each pot is individually made using the lost wax method and is unique as the mold is damaged in the process of making the item. The numbers are the inventory numbers from Penn State University and Lehigh University. Exhibited: The Pennsylvania State University - Museum of Art permanent collection; The Lehigh University - Art Galleries permanent collection. Provenance: The collection of Dr and Mrs John E. Swanson. Dr John Swanson and his wife Marian lived from 1966 - 1981 in Lagos, Nigeria where Dr Swanson was the Advisor to the National Universities Commission and later on the Chief Planning Officer of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. During their time in Africa, the Swansons started to collect African art. In 1973 a part of their collection, circa 120 pieces went on loan to The Pennsylvania State University Museum of Art, where they remained until 1978. In 1981 Dr Swanson passed away and his wife Marian never returned to Africa. In 1982 Mrs Swanson lent 130 pieces to the Lehigh University Art Gallery where they remained until 1987. A few pieces were also lent to Lafayette College - Williams Art Center for an exhibition titled "Plainly Geometric - Selections of Art from West Africa". In 2018 Mrs Swanson passed away.
  • Creator:
    Akan Ashanti (Maker)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 7.88 in (20 cm)Diameter: 5.12 in (13 cm)
  • Style:
    Tribal (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Bronze,Cast
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1940s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading.
  • Seller Location:
    Aramits, FR
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU6432238765462

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