Collections: Arts of Africa and the Pacific Islands: Snake Pendant

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Snake Pendant

In Ghana and the Ivory Coast, regions that acquired great wealth from the mining and trading of gold, rulers displayed their status by wearing a profusion of gold ornaments, even attaching such objects to umbrellas and swords. Although many of these ornaments are abstract geometric shapes, some represent human faces or animals, as in the piece shown here depicting a coiled snake catching a frog. Such works were made using the lost-wax casting method, in which a clay mold was made around a modeled wax form. The mold was then heated and the wax poured out, after which molten gold was poured in and solidified in the form of the original wax model.

• Cultures: Ebrié; or Baule
• Medium: Gold alloy
• Geographical Locations:
  • Place made: Lagunes region, Ivory Coast
  • Place made: Lagunes Region, Ivory Coast
• Dates: 19th century
• Dimensions: 3 9/16 x 1 5/16 in. (9 x 3.3 cm)
• Collections: Arts of Africa and the Pacific Islands
• Museum Location: This item is on view in African Galleries, 1st Floor
• Accession Number: 54.161
• Credit Line: Frank L. Babbott Fund
• Image: Overall, 54.161_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
Ebrié. Snake Pendant, 19th century. Gold alloy, 3 9/16 x 1 5/16 in. (9 x 3.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 54.161 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 54.161_SL1.jpg)
• Catalogue Description: A coiled snake with head facing downward, holding a toad in its mouth. It was cast cire perdue and constructed of fine adjacent threads. There are 3 hooks for suspension. Condition: good, except for crude repair to metal next to supporting loops.