Gold Trinkets Worn as Spells

This image shows numerous amulets, bracelets, a gold hatband, a gold horn, a necklace, small and large wooden stools, arm rings, hair combs, scales for weighing gold, cowry shells, an earthen pot, an iron pin and money. Gold objects likely came from the Gold Coast in the Voltaic region. Thomas Astley (d. 1759) was a British bookseller and publisher who never went to Africa. His imagined localities and illustrations of Africa were informed by a library of travel books at his disposal.

Image Title

Gold Trinkets Worn as Spells

RegID

SI-OB-820

Date

1745-1747

Title

Gold Trinkets Worn as Spells

Source

"Plate LXVIII" in Thomas Astley (ed.), A New General Collection of Voyages and Travels, vol. 2 (London: Thomas Astley, 1745-1747), facing p. 631.

Language

English

Item sets

Pre-Colonial Africa: Society, Polity, Culture

Spatial Coverage

Africa--Voltaic

Reproduced In

Derived from a larger engraving based on the late seventeenth century voyages of Jean Barbot and published in Awnsham Churchill and John Churchill, Collection of Voyages, (London: Printed for Awnsham and John Churchill, 1732).

Researchers

Jerome Handler; Michael Tuite; Henry B. Lovejoy Graduate Research Assistants: Tiffany Beebe; Travis May

Last Updated

9-Aug-10; 21-Aug-19

Identifier

Astley015