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Pendant: Face
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Cast using the lost-wax method, gold objects are the only Baule art forms associated with ancestral spirits. Usually stored in suitcases or pots, a collection of gold adornments (<em>aja</em>) are displayed on important occasions such as funerals. They are laid out around the corpse before burial as a sign of respect and their family's wealth. Faces such as this pendant are said to be idealized portraits of friends or lovers. This depiction of a man has a beard and elaborately styled hair.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, possibly Baule-style goldsmith |
|---|---|
| Date | 1900s |
| Culture / Origin | Africa, West Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, possibly Baule-style goldsmith |
| Medium | Gold |
| Dimensions | Overall: 7.6 x 5 cm (3 x 1 15/16 in.) |
| Department | African Art |
| Type | Jewelry |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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