Accession Number
1997/1.366

Title
Gold-weight

Artist(s)
Akan

Artist Nationality
Akan (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1900-1985

Medium & Support
brass

Dimensions
1 1/8 in x 3 9/16 in x 1/16 in (2.9 cm x 9 cm x 0.2 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis

Subject matter
A gold-weight in the shape of what may be a snake. The wavy line of this gold-weight could represent water, a snake, or even string. If interpreted as a snake, a related proverb states "[t]he cobra that blocks the path is going his own way, yet people run away when they see him", meaning once someone gets a bad reputation, nobody will trust them even if they intend no harm.

See: T. Garrard, Akan Weights and the Gold Trade, 1980, p. 195-6.  
        T. Garrard, Akan Weights and the Gold Trade, 1980, p. 207.
 

Physical Description
Gold-weight in the shape of alternating curves stacked on top of one another. 

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
goldweights
measuring
miniature (size attribute)
weighing devices