Accession Number
1997/1.370

Title
Gold-weight

Artist(s)
Akan

Artist Nationality
Akan (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
20th century

Medium & Support
brass

Dimensions
13/16 in x 7/8 in x 1/4 in (2.1 cm x 2.2 cm x 0.6 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis

Subject matter
Gold-weight in a triangular geometric shape. 
Geometric gold-weights often bear decorations and symbols similar to designs in other media created by Akan-speaking peoples, such as stamped cloth (adinkra). Similar patterns on different media show the relationship between form, ornamentation, and function. For example, adampan, the open-fronted verandas that were used to conduct business, link gold-weights and wall murals to a shared economic transactional context. 
See: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/online_research_catalogues/agw/african_gold-weights.aspx
Sheales, Fiona, African Goldweights, London, BMP, 2014

Physical Description
Gold-weight in the shape of a triangle with three cylindrical-section pedestal feet. 

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
measuring devices (instruments)
miniature (size attribute)