Accession Number
1997/1.440

Title
Gold-weight

Artist(s)
Akan

Artist Nationality
Akan (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1900-1985

Medium & Support
brass

Dimensions
13/16 in x 13/16 in x 7/16 in (2 cm x 2 cm x 1.1 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis

Subject matter
This kind of weight is a polygon, bearing a graphic sign on top. Polygonal shaped gold-weights have been produced since the 16th century (cf. Garrard, Akan Weights and the Gold Trade, pp. 278-279). These early geometric designs may have come from Islamic ornamental script and while their meaning was unknown to Akan-speaking peoples, the designs were regarded as powerful because of their association with writing (cf. Sheales, African Goldweights, 2014). Scholars like Niangoran-Bouah have argued that the signs on Akan gold-weights are a real writing system, based on 254 basic signs that can occur (alone or in combinations) on gold-weights as well as many other media. In this example, the vertical bars might relate to a numerical sign (namely, 2) (cf. The Akan World of Gold Weights, Vol. 1, p. 221).

Physical Description
Gold-weight in the shape of a pentagonal base with two raised bars.

Primary Object Classification
Metalwork

Primary Object Type
goldweight

Collection Area
African

Rights
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Keywords
goldweights
measuring
miniature (size attribute)
weighing devices