Chief's ring "mpetea" with frog ·  Ghana, Akan / Ashanti · ID: 3045200

Description

gold alloy ca.1,00 (24 carat), base

The image of a frog might seem to be an unusual royal symbol, but it is a common motif on chief’s rings.

It is connected with the following proverb: “A frog’s length is only apparent after death”. The implication is that a chief’s accomplishments are often not appreciated during his lifetime and that it is only looking back at his career after his death that his contributions can be fully understood.

The object Chief’s ring “mpetea” with frog with the object ID 3045200 was part of the auction 91 Tribal Art Auction on March 9, 2019. The object with the lot number 166 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,600 with an asking price of EUR 800.

Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about African art.

Comparing literature

Ross, Doran H., Gold of the Akan from the Glassell Collection, Houston 2002, p. 173