At 15 cm in length it is unlikely this piece was a gold weight as its too large, although the Akan have been know to produce bronze gold weights depicting men in a canoe up to nearly 10 cm in length. It is more likely this Baule bronze from the Ivory Coast, who were also know to product gold weights, was made as a item of prestige. The detail of the casting is fine, it has a part verdigris surface more around the inside of the boat and legs of the sitting figures. The surface is smooth and worn, overall it feels like a piece dating to the early part of the 20th Century. However what the piece was traditionally used for is a bit of a mystery.
Ex Private Collection London
Estimated Period: 1st Half 20th Century
Length: 15 cm
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