Goldweight in the shape of a gun cartridge / Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire
Viewer
About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1997/1.503
- Title
- Goldweight in the shape of a gun cartridge
- 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
- 6.4 cm x 1 cm x 2 cm (2 1/2 in. x 3/8 in. x 13/16 in.)
- Century
- 20th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Primary Object Type
- goldweight
- Physical Description
- Goldweight in the shape of a gun cartridge belt with attached powder bag and horn.
- Subject Matter
- Some of the figurative weights used by Akan-speaking peoples in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire took the form of important items of regalia, referring to a ruler's spiritual, political or military powers. This weight depicts the elaborately decorated cartridge belt with powder bag and horn worn by the official sword bearers who served Asante rulers. More specifically, it might depict the gun cartridge of the legendary general Akowua, about whom a proverb says: "The gun cartridge-belt of Akowu has never been known to lack bullets" ("Atuduro asa a, nnye Akowua ntoa mu a"). In other words, the proverb, and the goldweight that expresses it in visual form, remind the viewer or listener of the importance of resourcefulness and preparedness.
- Secondary Keywords
- africa (continent)
- belts (costume accessories)
- costume
- costume accessories
- costume accessories worn
- geographic and political locations
- goldweights
- objects we use
- 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
- 230 KB
- Record
- 1997/1.503
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1997-sl-1.503/1997_1.503.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1997-SL-1.503:1997_1.503.JPG
Cite this Item
View the Help Guide for more information.
- Full citation
-
"Goldweight in the shape of a gun cartridge; 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-1.503/1997_1.503.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 25, 2024.
