For a Musician
On loan to The Met
This work of art is currently on loan to the museum.Following a lifetime of holding their instrument, a musician might find comfort in being embraced by its familiar form after death. Ghanaian fantasy coffins like this example emerged from a tradition of figural palanquins used in southern Ghana. The transports appeared in processions marking the installation of a new chief of the Ga-Adangme. Crafted by the same carpenters, both coffins and palanquins reflect the identities of their occupants and serve as vehicles for transformative journeys.
Artwork Details
- Title: For a Musician
- Artist: Made by the artist Paa Joe (Ghanaian, born 1947) in 2025
- Date: 2025
- Culture: Ghanaian
- Medium: Emele, enamel, cloth
- Dimensions: 146 x 38 x 21 in. (370 x 97 x 53 cm)
- Classification: Sculpture
- Credit Line: Superhouse, New York
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
Content Notice
The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.