Crown for the King of Ardra

anonymous, c. 1664

This crown was intended as a diplomatic gift to the king of Ardra (a kingdom in West Africa) to promote trade in enslaved Africans. The nature and extent of human trafficking and slavery in West Africa changed with the arrival of the Dutch West India Company (WIC). Besides the fact that people were now being shipped to other continents, the colonial system made the status of enslaved people inheritable and linked to skin colour.

  • Artwork typeclothing, jewellery, crown
  • Object numberNG-NM-816-A
  • Dimensionsheight 28 cm x diameter 18 cm
  • Physical characteristicskoper, glas, fluweel

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Crown for the King of Ardra

  • Object type

  • Object number

    NG-NM-816-A

  • Description

    Kroon met op de hoofdband rechthoekige glazen stenen in verschillende kleuren afgewisseld met knoppen. Bovenop de band versiering van fleurons. Vanaf de band lopen vier beugels versierd met vierkant kruis (onderaan), stenen en knoppen. Op de kruising van de beugels een wereldbol met vierkant kruis. Dit kruis is ingelegd met glas. De kroon is gevoerd met rood fluweel.

Creation

  • Creation

    maker: anonymous, England

  • Dating

    c. 1664

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    koper, glas, fluweel

  • Dimensions

    height 28 cm x diameter 18 cm

This work is about

  • Person

  • Subject

  • Period

    1664

Acquisition and rights

Documentation

  • Object van de maand (7), Gijs van der Ham, Historiek, 10 juli 2012 - http://historiek.net/overige/6696-een-kroon-voor-ardra-7

Related objects

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