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Fly-Whisk Servant Bell

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Collection: African Art Collection
Description: The servant bell is shaped like the ancient Ashanti fly-whisk, a tool used to swat flies. The fly-whisk bell is made entirely of metal. The flat handle descends to a cone shaped waist containing a clapper.
General Note: GEOGRAPHY / CULTURE GROUP: Ghana, Akan. The Ashanti people are part of the much larger Akan group. Akan people are a population of farmers living in current day Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin. The Akan take tremendous pride in traditional ceremonies, regalia, and cultural practices. The society is arranged in chiefdoms. Rulers are known by a variety of names including King, Chief, Nana and Asantehene. The Akan are known for their cocoa, ceramics, staffs, textiles, dolls, gold jewelry and elaborate funerals.
Artists/Makers: Akan Ghana Read Biography

Akan

GEOGRAPHY / CULTURE GROUP: Ghana, Akan. The Ashanti people are part of the much larger Akan group. Akan people are a population of farmers living in current day Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin. The Akan take tremendous pride in traditional ceremonies, regalia, and cultural practices. The society is arranged in chiefdoms. Rulers are known by a variety of names including King, Chief, Nana and Asantehene. The Akan are known for their cocoa, ceramics, staffs, textiles, dolls, gold jewelry and elaborate funerals. The highly stylized Akuaba dolls are often worn by children and are believed to promote fertility.
Student Work: No
Culture: Akan
Geography: Ghana
Medium: Metal (likely Brass)
Classification: Other
Accession Number: 2022.01.076
Accession Date: May 2022
Donated By: Reginald and Celeste Hodges
Donation Date: May 2022
Provenance Note: PROVENANCE: This rare fly-whisk bell was unearthed in a dig, along with other items, in Kumasi in 1975. The sword remained in Reginald Hodges’ possession until transfer to ECU in 2022.