Civic Museum Paleontology and Palaeo-ethonology “Decio de Lorentiis”. Weight for gold
dust, crocodiles, symbol of the family. Bronze. Ashanti craft. 14th – 19th century.
The object refers to a weight for gold dust and portrays two crocodiles with a single stomach. This type symbolises the unity of the family, unlike other similar objects that propose the figure of the single crocodile, with a different symbolic meaning.
The gold dust weights are characteristic of Ashanti craft and belong to a varied class in representative and decorative types, which gave the object a symbolic, as well as functional value, often coming from morals, proverbs and behavioural standards.
Made with the lost wax fusion technique, introduced in the northern savannah during the course of the 14th – 15th century by the Niger-Congo traders, they became increasingly rare until they disappeared between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century.
| Identificazione |
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Inventory number:
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E.S. 005
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| Precedenti localizzazioni |
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Provenance:
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F. Santini donation 2003
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| Reperimento |
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Place of discovery:
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Nigeria
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| Oggetto |
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Definizione:
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Weight
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Class and ware:
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Bronze objects
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| Cronologia |
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Datazione certa secolo:
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14th – 19th century
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| Definizione culturale |
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Cultural milieu:
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Ashanti craft
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| Dati tecnici |
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Material:
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Bronze
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Technique:
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Lost wax
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Width:
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max 6,9
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Length:
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max 7,3
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Thickness:
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0,8
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Varie:
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Unit cm
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Further information
