Accession Number1985/2.42
TitleGold-weight
Artist(s)AkanArtist NationalityAkan (culture or style)Object Creation Date1900-1985Medium & SupportbrassDimensions 3 7/16 in x 7/8 in x 15/16 in (8.7 cm x 2.2 cm x 2.4 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase made possible by the Betty J. Lockett Memorial FundSubject matterFigurative gold-weight in the form of a man with hair or headgear in the shape of a ball. The mouth holds an animal above the goatee, figure has a short stick or knife under the left arm. Wearing a loincloth, the figure also has a jar in each hand. Around the 18th century figurative gold-weights began to appear, some depicting ritual practices such as preparing offerings, oath-taking, hunting, as well as everyday activities (cf. Sheales, African Goldweights, 2014). This gold-weight may be an example of a popular category, but exactly what is depicted is unclear.
Physical DescriptionGold-weight in the shape of a man with a large head, tilted slightly backwards, on a thick, heavy neck, and topped by an object in the shape of a ball; the face has protruding eyes and nose, and the mouth holds a snake-like animal above a small rectangular protrusion. The figure holds a short stick under the left arm and has two small round objects in the hands, as well as a rectangular protrusion around and below the waist.
Primary Object Classification Metalwork Primary Object TypegoldweightCollection AreaAfricanRightsIf 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
Figures
goldweights
human males
knife
man
measuring
men (male humans)
miniature (size attribute)
weighing devices