Object Name: Pendant
Place of Origin: Ghana
Cultural Group: Mamprussi or Asante peoples
Materials Used: Silver
Dimensions: L: 15 cm, W: 6 cm, D: 5 cm (L: 5.9 in, W: 2.3 in, D: 1.9 in)
Credit line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection. X87.1710

Cast silver pendants depicting a mudfish in its mouth, are the prerogative of chieftaincy among several northern Ghanaian peoples. Most of the pendants are modeled in the style of Asante cast gold sword ornaments. These pendants originated as gifts from the Asante to selected leaders among their northern neighbors and were subsequently copied by northern casters.

Source: Ross, Doran H. ed. (1994): “Visions of Africa”, Los Angeles, UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History. page 63