Kuduo

Small container of bronze, circular base, about 15 to 20 centimeters. Without the lid it does not usually pass from 10 or 15. It is frequently raised on a filigree basis. Its walls can be smooth or decorated with reliefs referring to religious, ethnic or cosmogonic symbols. Groups of people or animals may appear on its cover, recreating tribal or cut scenes. These small containers served to store the nuggets and the gold powder, also magical or healing substances intended to produce a vital force, the kra. They were used in funeral rituals, leaving them in the graves along with other properties of the deceased, to favor their transit to the afterlife. In principle the Kuduos belonged to the kings and high classes of society. Containers similar to those kuduo are the Forowa designed to store the jewels and valuable small objects with which they are often confused. The main difference is that the Kuduo are brass or so-called African broice and produced by the procedure of lost wax, the cast has a sacred value, while the Forumwa are normally made of hammered brass plate.

They are two of the most important artistic productions of bronze Ashanti.

Three-height Kuduo, the lower one serving as a pedestal or base, the intermediate one that is the container in which it is stored in powder or the golden nuggets in whose handles like stairs to climb to the top height there are two characters. In the third height a marriage of notables plays a game of awalé, known in other places as mankala. In men in pensive attitude it is under an umbrella and are surrounded by four servers. It is a piece of difficult execution made by an excellent broncista. Old patina.