Kran Brass Pendant Liberia MATTER COLLECTION

A cast brass pendant in the form known as Kran, associated with the Akan peoples of Ghana. Pendants of this type are traditionally produced using the lost-wax casting technique, a method long practiced by Akan metalworkers for creating goldweights, ornaments, and regalia.

The term Kran refers to the soul or life force in Akan belief, and pendants bearing this name are often worn as protective or spiritual amulets. Such pieces may be incorporated into necklaces or personal adornment and are sometimes associated with prestige, identity, and traditional spiritual concepts.

Brass jewelry and symbolic pendants form an important part of Akan decorative arts, reflecting a rich visual language tied to status, belief, and cultural expression. Pieces like this are valued today both as wearable adornment and as examples of the enduring metalworking traditions of West Africa.

Provenance: Matter Collection

From the collection of Margie and Phil Matter. Margie lived in South Africa, and later she and her husband Phil opened a gallery in Tucson. Everything in this collection was in their home for more than thirty years. Africa Direct recently bought the collection; at 95, Margie wants to share the things she has loved so much. 

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