A fragmentary Akan Kuduo vessel

Estimated price  800 - 900 €

A fragmentary Akan Kuduo vessel, Ghana, on the lid we see a leopard attacking a warthog.

Akan (Asante), Ghana | Brass (lost-wax casting) | 18th–19th century.

Kuduo vessels hold a central place in the ritual and social life of the Akan peoples of Ghana. Cast from brass using the lost-wax technique, they served as containers for personal treasures—gold dust, beads, amulets—and were deeply associated with the kra, the spiritual essence or soul of the owner. Beyond their function as secure storage, Kuduo were ceremonial objects used in rites of passage, purification rituals, and ancestral offerings.

Their surfaces often feature intricate geometric patterns and figural motifs that reference proverbs and convey social values such as authority, wisdom, and protection. Many are crowned with sculptural lids bearing animal or human figures—symbols laden with meaning within the Akan worldview. Some include locking mechanisms, further reinforcing their role as protectors not just of physical possessions, but of spiritual well-being.

Kuduo exemplify the artistic sophistication of Akan metalworkers and the interweaving of form, symbolism, and function. As cultural artifacts, they speak to broader themes of status, memory, and the sacred relationship between the individual and the community.

Height: 35 cm
Weight: 4,2 kg