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Pendant: Face in Crescent
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This pendant was cast in gold using the lost-wax method. Gold objects are the only Baule art forms associated with ancestor spirits. Usually hidden in pots or suitcases, gold adornments are displayed on important occasions such as funerals. They are laid out around the corpse before burial. A widow will wear them on a chain around her neck or attached to her hair at the ceremony signaling the end of mourning.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, probably Baule-style goldsmith |
|---|---|
| Date | 1900s |
| Culture / Origin | Africa, West Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, probably Baule-style goldsmith |
| Medium | Gold |
| Dimensions | Overall: 7 x 7.4 cm (2 3/4 x 2 15/16 in.) |
| Department | African Art |
| Type | Jewelry |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
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