Accession Number
1997/1.479

Title
Goldweight with geometric pattern

Artist(s)
Akan

Artist Nationality
Akan (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1900-1985

Medium & Support
brass

Dimensions
5/8 in x 9/16 in x 3/8 in (1.6 cm x 1.5 cm x 0.9 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis

Subject matter
Goldweights have long been used and produced by the Akan-speaking peoples of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. Many weights show patterns consisting of spirals, circles, waves, zigzag lines, bars, comb-shapes, bows, or crosses. Scholars differ in their interpretation of these graphic weights. Most argue that the similarities between Akan goldweights and their Roman and Islamic counterparts indicate that Akan-speaking peoples adapted weight forms from their North African trading partners for their own use in the context of the gold trade. Other scholars maintain that the graphic patterns on Akan goldweights represent a symbolic language of indigenous origin. In either case, the interpretation of this particular example remains unclear.

Physical Description
Goldweight in the shape of a square, with a geometric pattern, consisting of variously sized triangles in the center and edged teeth along two edges.

Primary Object Classification
Metalwork

Primary Object Type
goldweight

Collection Area
African

Rights
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Keywords
geometric motifs
goldweights