Lot 74
FANTE ASAFO FLAG: AFTER THE LEOPARD THERE IS NO OTHER (ANIMAL)
GHANA, C.1900
African & Oceanic Art and Antiquities
Auction: 21 March 2018 at 11:00 GMT
Description
cotton applique flag, a spotted leopard is shown carrying a hunter in its mouth, red background with Union Jack in top left and a black and white checked border
Dimensions
162.5x114.5cm
Footnote
Please note; Framed by John Jones to museum quality, the flag is mounted on a cotton backing and presented in a wooden frame.
Beginning in the 17th century, the Fante groups which inhabited the south-west coast of modern-day Ghana formed military and political units known as 'asafo' (deriving from sa, meaning war, and fo, meaning people). Each unit developed elaborate traditions of visual art, most striking of all the flags shown here. These comprised of bold naïve imagery appliqued onto a cotton background, they commonly depict indigenous proverbs which relate closely to the commissioning Asafo group. With the British conquest of the region in 1856 many Asafo groups incorporated versions of the Union Jack into the flag to enhance the power of the imagery.
In this case the Asafo company concerned are identifying with this feared predator.