The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 25, 2023

Ring: Coiled Snake on a Ball

before 1951

Africa, West Africa, Ghana, Asante goldsmith

Gold

Overall: 4.5 x 3 x 2.3 cm (1 3/4 x 1 3/16 x 7/8 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1951.320

Location

not on view

Description

Shared by different Akan and Akan-related peoples, including the Asante and Baule, gold ornaments indicate status and wealth and are worn at public festivals by titleholders, chiefs, and kings.

Exhibition history

African Textiles and Decorative Arts. The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY (organizer) (October 11, 1972-January 31, 1973); Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA (March 20-May 31, 1973); Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA (July 2-August 31, 1973); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (October 3-December 2, 1973).

The Arts of Ghana. Frederick S. Wight Art Gallery, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA (organizer) (October 11-December 11, 1977); Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN (February 11-March 26, 1978); The Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX (May 3-July 2, 1978).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1951.320