Gan pendant from Burkina Faso. Authentic piece over 50 years old. Piece on base.

Exquisite examples of a casting art dedicated to depicting “powers” ​​of royal origin, ancient Gan bronzes were associated with cults paid to the spirits of deceased members of the princely family, recognized by custom as spiritual protectors of the kingdom. Each of them had a motto recalling an important event in their existence and a symbolic representation which, reproduced on different types of ritual supports, gave each object the “sacred identity” necessary for its function. The repertoire of metal objects from this “plastic lexicon” which directed the creative process of society by determining the uniqueness of its religious supports brings together univocal representations, often animalistic, emblems of ancient entities, as well as complex figurations, made up of different significant elements, the association of which is supposed to reflect the composite nature of the cults which, over the ages, have been integrated into the hierarchical religious system of this small Burkinabé kingdom.