(AFRICA TEXTILES) GHANA Fante Asafo flag or banner

Sale 2271 - Lot 100

Price Realized: $ 1,800

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500

(AFRICA--TEXTILES.) GHANA. Fante Asafo flag or "banner." 65x35 inches with a tasseled fringe. Depicts a black man pointing at a blue-gray colored man (possibly white?) who is holding a wild boar; to the left of them both is a mother elephant with her youngster, the British "Union Jack" in the upper left-hand corner; some discoloration, and a few worn spots. Ghana, 1930s to 1957

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"Among the Fante people of coastal Ghana military companies known as Asafo, began in the past as groups to which men and in some instances women could belong. Most Fante coastal towns had at least one company and larger towns up to ten or fourteen leading to rivalries and conflicts. These companies were politically engaged in the selection of chiefs and identified religiously to their particular military shrine (pousban) that served as a gathering place and centers of activity for these Asafo companies. Each local company is identified by a particular name and number and through a set of symbols displayed prominently on their flags. Asafo flags have a rough system that can be used to define the date of origin with the British ensign often featured on flags before Ghana achieved independence in 1957. Therefore Asafo flags with the Ghanaian ensign in one of the corners indicate that the flag was put together post-independence and thereby after 1957."---Dan Mato, Professor Emeritus of Art History, The University of Calgary.