Asante Silver Necklace with Crocodile Pendant. 20th century AD. A large hollow-formed silver pendant, the outer face presenting a snarling crocodile head, with exaggerated elliptical eyes covered by thick, squinting eyelids, raised ears with notched ridges behind and decorative lozengiform plaque before, mouth ajar revealing angled teeth expressed as alternating solid and openwork diagonal sections, small circular nostrils to the tip of the muzzle, and a series of raised lozenges suggesting the scaly texture of the creature's skin; reverse featuring large rectangular opening with a 'ropework' border and two irregular piercings; two suspension loops at the base of the neck, attached to a quadripartite chain; from Northern Ghana (Mampurussi).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.’210 grams, 62cm (24 1/2"). UK private collection 2008-2021; acquired from Niger Bend, Chittenango, New York, USA; from the Asante (Mampurussi) tribe, Northern Ghana, West Africa; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no. 10611-172523.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. A video of this lot is available to view at TimeLine Auctions website.