Asante Gilt Double-Faced Pendant. 20th century AD. A gilt pendant formed as two 'conjoined' heads with four ribbed suspension loops above, a single semi-circular ear to each head and a series of horizontal ridges running the full width of the piece; one face with head ornamentation comprising four slender bands, one placed horizontally, three placed vertically, arched eyebrows, raised oval eyes, raised nose, full lips placed low-down on the face; the second face with headpiece comprising three horizontal bands, broad arching eyebrows below, raised oval eyes, nose, full lips set low-down on the face with beard below; hollow underside; collection label '81' 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.’77.58 grams, 74mm (3"). UK private collection 2010-2021; acquired from Niger Bend, Chittenango, New York, USA.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.