Sunday 23 October 2011

African goldsmiths

Gold of Africa Barbier-Mueller Museum
As the resident goldsmith at the Gold of Africa
Barbier-Mueller Museum
, I have an incredible resource
at my fingertips.

    The museum's permanent collection of African gold
artifacts from 18th and 19th century Mali and Ghana,
is utterly inspiring from a design and manufacturing point of view.
    The Ashanti goldsmith used techniques such as
granulation, chasing, repousse and of course,
lost wax casting. Take a look at the fine detail achieved
in this lost wax cast bead.




Jewellery pieces like this and the rings pictured
below bear testament to the extraordinary skill
of the African goldsmith.





The Ashanti were masters at working gold and
continue to inspire today.

    Pop in to the museum and visit the collection,
enjoy an aromatic coffee in the leafy courtyard or
watch the goldsmith at work. 


workshop interior

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