Description:
On offer from our personal collection is this whimsical pair of bronze spotted leopards from the Ashanti peoples of Ghana. The Ashanti are known for their skilled & imaginative metalwork, & are prolific in their production of metal objects such as goldweights & various storage boxes, including a variety of lidded container known as a kuduo.
Possibly used as goldweights, the sculptures are loaded with personality. Cast using the lost wax method, the clever sculptor has paid considerable attention to detail with the marvelous facial features & the tiny rings representing leopards' spots, applied to the surfaces of both figures.
Despite a few minor casting imperfections including a (stable) crack on the inside of the right front leg of Leopard #1 & a missing upper-jaw tooth of Leopard #2 that appear to have occurred during the casting process, plus a partially broken toe on the right back foot of Leopard #2, these charming figures are in very good overall condition. Wonderful verdigris patina, with oxidation present inside & out. Delightful display.
