West Africa, Ghana / Cote d'Ivoire, Akan, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A gold leaf-covered carved wood trumpet instrument known as an aben, modeled like a cow's horn or elephant's tusk, tapering to a narrow mouthpiece and vent hole below. The wood is incised with linear patterns that create a beautiful textured surface and the hollow interior is painted in a blue pigment. The delicate gold leaf is pressed into the carved surface. This aben is richly decorated but produces only one or two notes - which announce the presence of a chief. This horn is also used in an ensemble known as a mmensoun, talented court musicians that are also associated with chieftaincy. Size: 11.25" L x 2" W (28.6 cm x 5.1 cm); 8.5" H (21.6 cm) on included custom stand.

Exhibited at the International Museum of the Gulf of Guinea, Togo from 2005 to 2011. This museum is home to the private collection of Swiss merchant and art collector, Rene David (1928 to 2015).

Provenance: private Eden, Wisconsin, USA collection; ex-Hammer Auktionen, Basel, Switzerland, November 29, 2019; ex-Rene David estate (1928-2015), Zurich, Switzerland

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#185102

Losses to gold leaf across the surface as shown. Some abrasions and gouges to wood, otherwise intact. Not tested for functionality as a instrument.