Asante Necklace with Gilt Pendant. 20th century AD. A bifacial gilt discoid pendant with hollow tube running vertically through the centre, flared at both ends, slender ribbed strap running horizontally through the centre, pyramids of granulated beads around the perimeter; suspended on a necklace comprising coiled biconical beads alternating with ribbed tubular beads with central discs, small annular spacer beads, clusters of three and four large green glass cylinder disc beads and tubular beads with columns of applied granules; lengths of chain at the terminals; collection label '66A' to the reverse.See the Dallas Museum of Art exhibition, The Power of Gold, Asante Royal Regalia from Ghana, 15 April 2018, for similar: ‘The Dallas Museum of Art presents an exhibition dedicated to the royal regalia of the Asante kingdom. Spanning three centuries, The Power of Gold: Asante Royal Regalia from Ghana brings together over 250 objects, including crowns, sword ornaments, ceremonial furniture, textiles, pectoral disks, weapons, a state umbrella, musical instruments, and jewelry made of wood, silk, brass, iron, and gold. Organized by the DMA and inspired by the Museum’s collection, The Power of Gold is the first American museum exhibition dedicated to Asante regalia in over 30 years, and explores the unique role and impact of gold on the development of Asante society, economy, and arts.’ Also the Tishman exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum, NY in 1981 'For Spirit and Kings: African Art from the Tishman collection'.108 grams total, 52cm (20 1/2"). UK private collection 2006-2021; acquired from Arte Primitivo, New York, 9 June 2006, lot 352; formerly in the Paul and Ruth Tishman collection.The wealthy, gold-rich Ashanti people are part of the Akan ethnic group and are native to the Ashanti Region of modern-day Ghana. In the 1670s the Ashanti, also known as Asante people, went from being a tributary state to the centralised hierarchical Denkyira kingdom. The empire was founded in 1670, and the Asante capital Kumasi was founded in 1680 by Asantehene (emperor) Osei Kofi Tutu I. Ashanti was one of the few African states that seriously resisted European colonizers, however the British finally defeated the kingdom following the ‘War of the Golden Stool’ in 1900. In 1935 the Ashanti became the self-ruling sovereignty of the Kingdom of Ashanti, and the Ashanti King title of Asantehene was revived.