ASHANTI SWORD OF STATE

19th century. 23” length. The wood hilt skillfully carved as two deeply fluted spheres joined by a diced surface cylinder. The whole overlaid in thin sheet gold, substantially intact. The iron blade of typical form and pierced, now encased in a laced hide cover signifying the death of the ruler it served. The Ashanti of West Africa were merchants and slaver traders with a gold rich economy. Gold dust was the currency of the slave trade and gold embellished much of its art. This example would have served a local probably village chief as a symbol of his authority conferred by the king. These are only rarely found with the easily removable gold intact.