Gold-weight

Accession Number
1985/2.42

Title
Gold-weight

Artist(s)
Akan

Artist Nationality
Akan (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1900-1985

Medium & Support
brass

Dimensions
3 7/16 in x 7/8 in x 15/16 in (8.7 cm x 2.2 cm x 2.4 cm)

Credit Line
Museum purchase made possible by the Betty J. Lockett Memorial Fund

Subject matter
Figurative 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 Description
Gold-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 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
Figures
goldweights
human males
knife
man
measuring
men (male humans)
miniature (size attribute)
weighing devices

& Author Notes

Web Use Permitted