Goldweight in the shape of a human figure / Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1997/1.453
- Title
- Goldweight in the shape of a human figure
- Artist Nationality
- Ghanaian
- Medium and Support
- brass
- Object Creation Date
- 1900-1985
- Object Creation Place
- Africa (continent)
- Akan (historical region)
- Creation Place 1
- Africa (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Akan (historical region)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis
- Dimensions
- 3.7 cm x 0.8 cm x 1.2 cm (1 7/16 in. x 5/16 in. x 1/2 in.)
- Century
- 20th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Primary Object Type
- goldweight
- Physical Description
- Goldweight in the shape of a human figure, kneeling with buttocks on the heels and the hands at the side of the head, wearing elaborate headgear. Evidence of calcification.
- Subject Matter
- Representations of humans are not uncommon among the goldweights used and produced by Akan-speaking peoples in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire between the 15th and 19th centuries. When the figures represent an identifiable scene, they are often associated with a particular proverb, which is easily read off from the scene depicted. However, in the case of singular figures such as this one, the link with a proverb is much more tenuous, if there is one at all.
- Secondary Keywords
- africa (continent)
- geographic and political locations
- goldweights
- objects we use
- sculpture
- sculpture by subject type
- statues
- visual works
- visual works by medium or technique
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 3888 x 2592
- File Size
- 172 KB
- Record
- 1997/1.453
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1997-sl-1.453/1997_1.453.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1997-SL-1.453:1997_1.453.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Goldweight in the shape of a human figure; Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1997-sl-1.453/1997_1.453.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 25, 2024.
