Crocodile
Baule · Côte d’Ivoire
Reference: BRN-47
View 1 of 6 · Press the image to enlarge
- Height
- 11 cm
- Material
- Bronze
Small crocodile made by the procedure of lost wax, of a great realism and richness of details. Weights or ornaments with two cross-crossed crocodiles, and both…
Enquire about this objectPhotographs (6)
Full original description
Small crocodile made by the procedure of lost wax, of a great realism and richness of details.
Weights or ornaments with two cross-crossed crocodiles, and both carry a fish in their snout, are a typical extended representation in both Ghana and Ivory Coast. It symbolizes male and female duality. However, a single crocodile represents the powerful man. The crocodile is also the animal that establishes the relationship between land and water. The crocodile, a mythical animal in many African ethnicities, is an excellent fisherman. And... if you eat the fish you don't eat the men. The crocodile with the fish in the mouth is called "Odioka" which means "if you eat, you stay". It is one of the many symbols of the king or man of power.
The crocodile is the source of several sayings, for example, "The crocodile never returns what it has taken", "When you are in the middle of the river you do not insult the crocodile" or "Everything that eats the catfish is for the crocodile (who ends up eating it".
Period skate.
Further technical information
- Width
- 7 cm
- Attributed period
- First third century XX
Details transcribed from the original catalogue; they are not a recent physical inspection.
Country on the map
Côte d’Ivoire. The country associated with the catalog is shown, not the current location of the piece.
Google Maps is loaded only when you press the button.
Attributions, dates and accounts come from the preserved catalogue. They do not constitute certification of authenticity or provenance. An object’s presence on this website does not mean it is available for sale.
