C.1900-20. Bronze, just over 2” height and demonstrating the very finest casting skill and artistry of the Ashanti. Formed as a broom intricately detailed with double loop handle and basket weave shaft. Appears to be made of wire but in fact, a wax original with the very intricate “wires” of wax was  embedded in a clay mold and fired with bronze replacing the wax. Figural gold weights represented proverbs, in this case, roughly translating to our adage “a new broom sweeps clean”.  After an exemplary military career in Africa, Sir Cecil Armitage was made Governor of Gambia (1921-27). He was fascinated by the arts of East Africa, particularly those cast in bronze and formed a collection, largely related to the gold weights and containers which served the slave trade at that time. The currency for the slave trade was gold dust transactions in which were made by weighing against the standard. A portion of his collection is in the British Museum, while the balance was sold in London in the 1980s and purchased largely by us. A museum piece

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