Accession Number
1986/2.134

Title
Gold-weight

Artist(s)
Akan

Artist Nationality
Akan (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1900-1985

Medium & Support
brass

Dimensions
1 in x 3/8 in x 3/8 in (2.5 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Milford Golden

Subject matter
This small representational gold-weight might represent two distinct natural forms. First, it could be a seed pod-- in line with the representations of plant life that are quite frequent in Akan gold-weights of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. Secondly, it could be a calabash-- in this case, the natural form would refer to a particular cultural practice in the various Akan-speaking kingdoms, where, in the past, calabashes were used to store the gun and cannon powder used in war (cf. Garrard, Akan Weights and the Gold Trade, 1980, p. 102). 

Physical Description
Gold-weight in the shape of a small ball with a short, slightly curved, angular tail or handle attached to it.

Primary Object Classification
Metalwork

Primary Object Type
goldweight

Collection Area
African

Rights
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Keywords
goldweights
measuring
miniature (size attribute)
plant-derived motifs
weighing devices