Accession Number
1997/1.507

Title
Gold-weight

Artist(s)
Akan

Artist Nationality
Akan (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1900-1985

Medium & Support
brass

Dimensions
1 9/16 in x 1 1/4 in x 3/8 in (4 cm x 3.1 cm x 1 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis

Subject matter
Figurative gold-weight in the form of a rectangular shield (ekyem), decorated with a crotal bell (donnomma) at each end (cf. British Museum object number Af1906,0701.65). Shields are a common form of weight, where most depict wicker or hide-covered shields that typically include bells (cf. Garrard, Akan Weights and the Gold Trade, p.113; Philips, African Goldweights, p.110). Gold-weights are often illustrations of famous Akan proverbs. One proverb associated with shields states: 'Though the woman weaves the shield it is kept in the mans' quarters", meaning though a woman maybe skilled, she is still under the protection of a man; referring to the weaving of shields as women's craft (cf. Phillips, African Goldweights, pp. 108-109). Another proverb associated with shields states: 'If you have a shield and if you strike yourself with it thirty times, we don’t blame you' (cf. Sheales, African Goldweights).

Physical Description
Gold-weight in the shape of a rectangular base with rounded corners and a small protrusion along each of the two shorter edges. Near each protrusion there is a braided design and there are four star-burst designs evenly spaced across the base. 

Primary Object Classification
Metalwork

Primary Object Type
goldweight

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
armor (protective wear)
goldweights
measuring
miniature (size attribute)
shields (armor)
weighing devices