Head pendant "ngblo" or "sran tre" - Côte d'Ivoire, Baule / Lagoon people

gold, 8.5 carat, 32 grams, double eyelet

Pendants in the shape of a human face are among the finest gold castings from the Ivory Coast. They are widespread throughout the south-east and were probably mainly produced in the workshops of the Baule and Lagoon peoples.

They are said to have been worn by both men and women as hair ornaments or necklaces. Sometimes they are still worn today on special festive occasions. They are regarded as family heirlooms and form part of the gold treasure that belongs to the whole family and is passed down from generation to generation.
H: 5,6 cm, H: 2,2 inch

Provenance:
Lempertz Brussels, 10 May 2023, Lot 75 (part of a convolute)
German Private Collection

AHDRC: 0203785

Lit.: Garrard, Timothy, Afrikanisches Gold, München 1989, p. 100 ff.
Continent: Africa
Condition Report: See description