Rare lot of five brass Ashanti musicians from West Africa. Not massed produced these hand made ( lost wax casting ) sculptures represent Ashanti tribal musicians.
The figurines are approximatively measure 3" tall x 2 1/4" wide x 1 3/4" deep.
Asante also spelled Ashanti , West African state that occupied what is now southern Ghana in the 18th and 19th centuries. Extending from the Comoé River in the west to the Togo Mountains in the east, the Asante empire was active in the slave trade in the 18th century and unsuccessfully resisted British penetration in the 19th century.
In their struggle against the suzerain state of Denkyera and lesser neighbouring states, the Asante people made little headway until the accession, probably in the 1670s, of Osei Tutu. After a series of campaigns that crushed all opposition, he was installed as Asantehene, or king of the new Asante state, whose capital was named Kumasi. His authority was symbolized by the Golden Stool, on which all subsequent kings were enthroned.
