Akan Imagery of Trees
Asante linguist staff finial (ɔkyeame poma). Ghana, early 20th century. Carved wood, hammered gold foil. 15.5 h × 6.5 w × 6 d in (39 × 17 × 15 cm). A number of ɔkyeame poma represent messages of cooperative behavior within the state and between the chief and his subjects. For example two men helping each other with climbing a tree or working may represent a saying “If your intentions are good people will help.” Cooperation leads to success.
An Ashanti linguist staff finial (okyeame poma). Ghana. The finial depicts a tree with one figure helping another to climb it. Ht. 16 in. It depicts the saying, "If you climb a good tree, you get a push," or if your intentions are good, people will help you." Ex Bonhams, Mass.; Ex Private collection, Baltimore, Maryland; Ex William Wright Gallery, New York City, 1994; Dr. May Weber collection, Chicago, Illinois
An Akan silver/gold alloy pendant with a very long multi link chain featuring a large depiction of a man picking cacao pods from a tree (321 grams). Size 74" L, pendant 4" H. Silver alloyed with gold is often referred to as "green gold". When it naturally occurs, it is called electrum. This pendant may not be pleasing to the western eye but it held a lot of prestige to the owner at a time when great fortunes were made from the introduction of Cacao in Ghana.