Double Crocodile Weight
Akan · Côte d’Ivoire
Reference: PDP-12
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- Height
- 3 cm
- Material
- African Bronze
The weights or ornaments with two crocodiles crossed, and both carry a fish in the snout, are a typical representationextended in both Ghana and Ivory Coast.It…
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Full original description
The weights or ornaments with two crocodiles crossed, and both carry a fish in the snout, are a typical representationextended 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". The double crocodile also has another proverbial value: We have several mouths, but only one belly.
Further technical information
- Width
- 6 cm
- Attributed period
- First third century XX or older
Details transcribed from the original catalogue; they are not a recent physical inspection.
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Côte d’Ivoire. The country associated with the catalog is shown, not the current location of the piece.
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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.
