Zemanek-Münster
Sword ornament "gyata" (lion), Ghana, Akan / Ashanti, Size: L: 20,5 cm H: 15 cm (L: 8.1 inch H: 5.9 inch), ID: 3048040
Sword ornament "gyata" (lion), Ghana, Akan / Ashanti, Size: L: 20,5 cm H: 15 cm (L: 8.1 inch H: 5.9 inch), ID: 3048040 - 2/5 Sword ornament "gyata" (lion), Ghana, Akan / Ashanti, Size: L: 20,5 cm H: 15 cm (L: 8.1 inch H: 5.9 inch), ID: 3048040 - 3/5 Sword ornament "gyata" (lion), Ghana, Akan / Ashanti, Size: L: 20,5 cm H: 15 cm (L: 8.1 inch H: 5.9 inch), ID: 3048040 - 4/5 Sword ornament "gyata" (lion), Ghana, Akan / Ashanti, Size: L: 20,5 cm H: 15 cm (L: 8.1 inch H: 5.9 inch), ID: 3048040 - 5/5
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Lot 202
96th Auction

Sword ornament "gyata" (lion) ·  Ghana, Akan / Ashanti · ID: 3048040

sold EUR 800
Size
L: 20,5 cm
H: 15 cm
L: 8.1 inch
H: 5.9 inch

Description

metal (corroded),
These figures were fixed to the sheath of state swords “afena”. The attached eyelet was used for fastening. The ornaments represent different animals (crocodile, monkey, birds), that serve to visually characterize proverbs or sayings.

Tooth-baring lions such as this example have been associated with a proverb that implores one to listen to chiefly warnings: “If the lion has no intention to attack, it will not show its teeth.”

The object Sword ornament “gyata” (lion) with the object ID 3048040 was last part of the auction 96th Auction at April 24, 2021 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 202 achieved a sales price of EUR 800.

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

Comparing literature

Cole, Herbert M. & Doran H. Ross, The Arts of Ghana, Los Angeles 1977, p. 152, Fig. 318

Africa

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