Rare Akan Ruler’s Royal Gilded Elbow Amulet

This elbow amulet was made for an Akan chief or king and comprised part of his regalia to be worn on state occasions. Such pieces were designed to enhance the ruler’s appearance in public – to emphasise his grandeur and size (physical size was associated with importance). Few examples of this type seem to have survived or been published.

The set comprises a large, double-sided amulet box made of leather, covered with thick gold leaf and sewn with fine basketry edging, and seven seed pod-like talismans known as sebe dontwon each carved from wood and covered in gold leaf. The amulet box and pod motifs are suspended from a thick cord covered in multi-coloured silk thread, that is topped with further basketry work. The gold leaf on each of the items has been embossed with flower motifs.

Individually, the sebe dontwon were said to give the chief the power to control crowds and protect him from any threats. The central, rectangular package is likely to enclose Islamic Koranic script. These talismans were commissioned from Muslim craftsmen to provide mystical protection.

Such a collection of sebe dontwon amulets formed part of the regalia of an Asante chief. Such regalia items were extremely important for maintaining their vital force or power (kra) and the union between the ruler and the supreme being Nyame. Court officials known as nhenkwaa were appointed to watch over after such regalia pieces. Others were charged with making them as required. The task of looking after such items was not merely administrative, given that such regalia items formed a link and channel between the ruler and the supreme being.

A similar example is illustrated in Cole & Ross (1977, p. 35) and Falgayrettes-Leveau (2003, p. 81).

The Akan are a broad group largely based in Ghana of which the Asante (Ashanti) are a sub-group. Much of the wealth of the Akan came from trade in gold dust. They sourced the gold dust by panning the rivers for gold and by sluicing soil known to hold gold dust. The gold dust was sold to traders from outside the region but also was used as a currency among the Akan.

The example here has splendid patina and obvious age. There is the expected wear to the gilding.