Pectoral Disk (Akrafokonmu or Awisiado)

Early to mid-20th century

Asante
Ghana
Coastal West Africa

Gold ornaments indicate status and wealth among the Asante and other Akan-speaking peoples in coastal and central Ghana. They are worn ostentatiously at public festivals by titleholders, chiefs, and kings. The production of such ornaments declined in 1896, when British colonialists exiled the Asante king Prempeh I, but revived when he returned to Ghana in 1924. The size and artistry of this pectoral disk suggest that it was made after Prempeh I’s restoration to the throne.

Status: On View, Gallery 137
Department: Arts of Africa

Culture: Asante
Title: Pectoral Disk (Akrafokonmu or Awisiado)
Place: Ghana (Object made in)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: 1925–1929
Medium: Gold and red ochre
Dimensions: 19.7 × 19.7 × 2.5 cm (7 3/4 × 7 3/4 × 1 in.)
Credit Line: Irving Dobkin and David Soltker estates; Jane Brill Memorial Fund; Mr. and Mrs. David B. Ross Endowment
Reference Number: 1999.287

Constantine Petridis et al., Speaking of Objects: African Art at the Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago, 2020), cat. no. 30, pp. 90-91 (ill.).

Royal treasury of Odeefuo Boa Amponsem III, King of Denkyira (born 1932), Jukwa, Ghana, before 1991 [this and the following according to personal communication of A. Nuamah dated Oct. 8, 2012 documented in curatorial file]; given to Albert Nuamah (Abibiman Treasures: Fine African Arts and Artifacts), Detroit, Mich., by sub-chief Nana Tuffuor on behalf of the Denkyirahene (King of Denkyira), from 1991; sold to the Art Institute, 1999.

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

Suggested Terms

See all hours

On View

Date:

Artist:

About this artwork

Status

Department

Culture

Title

Place

Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Medium

Dimensions

Credit Line

Reference Number

Extended information about this artwork

Publication History

Provenance

Share

Explore Further

Sign up for our enewsletter to receive updates.

Gallery actions

Image actions

Share