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Vessel

Akan

Artwork Details

Vessel
20th century
Akan
brass
2 3/4 in x 5 1/2 in x 5 1/2 in (6.99 cm x 13.97 cm x 13.97 cm)
Gift of Dr. Daniel and Sandra Mato
2003/2.33

On Display

Not currently on display

Description

Subject Matter:

Kuduo, cast brass 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. 

Physical Description:

Brass vessel cast in a rounded bowl form. A small loop near the vessel's lip may have served as an attachment point for a hinged lid. The vessel has various geometric and curvilinear designs across the body. 

Usage Rights:

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