RARE COLLIER DE DIGNITAIRE ASHANTI

Composed of 120 sand-cast yellow gold elements: two lion's teeth forming a clasp; 13 long shell pendants of the Turritellidae family; 13 pendants in the stylized form of a bird's head; 15 four-pointed stars; 46 small bends and 31 rings. Kumasi, Ghana, 19th century. Before 1874. Length: 36 cm Total gross weight: 116 g. (Traces of red sand and original casting defects, rewound on later wire, beads and clasp attached). Associated documentation: an autograph letter from Lady Lyons (1873 - 1963) and two letters and an autograph envelope from Julien Chappée (1862 - 1957). PROVENANCE - British acquisition prior to 1874. - Presumed acquired in April 1874 in London via Garrard's, the Crown Jewellers. - Collection of Lady Lyons née Helen Julia Hardwick (1873 - 1963) [autograph letter]. - Acquired on March 25, 1914 for 800 francs by collector Julien Chappée (1862 - 1957) from the Veuve Simon. - Julien Chappée Collection (1862 - 1957) [autograph letter], then by descent. The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge University holds a piece of Ashanti gold jewelry [MAA 1918.83] (Fig. 1) featuring the same turritellidae shells in pendants. Our magnificent gold necklace is a rare example of ancient African goldsmithing from the Gold Coast associated with the royal court of the Asantehene (Ashanti Empire, present-day Ghana), and was probably the property of a glorious and powerful high dignitary or warlord, considering the important adornment it represents (Fig.2). Very few Ashanti gold objects have found their way into private hands. They all seem to come from an auction held at Cape Coat Castle (present-day Ghana), two months later (in April 1874) at another sale organized by Garrard's Crown Jewellers; this sale apparently included only six necklaces. Today, through successive gifts and purchases, the bulk of the Ashanti treasure is divided between the collections of the British Museum Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and London's Wallace Collection. Our necklace has a particularly interesting provenance, having belonged to the collector Julien Chappée, a great lover of objets d'art and generous donor to many institutions. The Musée du Louvre acquired several major works from him, including the chasse des Saints-Innocents [OA 10406] and the crosse dite de Jean de Chanlay [OA 10407]. Jules Chappée's high regard for our Jules Chappée's high regard for our necklace has enabled its integrity to be preserved, and offers us this superb testimony to the skill and glory of the Ashanti people.