Goldweight in the shape of a double-bladed sword / Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1997/1.505
- Title
- Goldweight in the shape of a double-bladed sword
- 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
- 5.8 cm x 4.2 cm x 1.4 cm (2 5/16 in. x 1 5/8 in. x 9/16 in.)
- Century
- 20th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Primary Object Type
- goldweight
- Physical Description
- Goldweight in the shape of a double-bladed royal sword, with incisions and a small ball along the shaft.
- Subject Matter
- Representations of double-bladed royal swords are a fairly common motif for Akan goldweights. Actual swords are part of a king's regalia, and are normally covered in a leather sheath, showing the ruler's distinctive insignia. The swords or sabers of the various Akan kingdoms serve distinct functions, such as the saber to announce the death of a dignitary or the one used by the king to take a loyalty oath to the throne-stool. The double sword, as represented in this goldweight, was called "afranta" in the pre-colonial Asante kingdom of Kumasi. The king of Asante, the Asantehene brandishes this sword during enthronement rituals or the Yam Festival, with the accompanying drum saying, "I have no favorite, I have no enemy." The same message is conveyed in a proverb: "the sword of justice cuts right, cuts left." This means that in judicial matters, the king doesn't grant anyone special favors.
- Secondary Keywords
- africa (continent)
- ceremonial weapons
- geographic and political locations
- goldweights
- objects we use
- weapons
- weapons and ammunition
- 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
- 158 KB
- Record
- 1997/1.505
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1997-sl-1.505/1997_1.505.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1997-SL-1.505:1997_1.505.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Goldweight in the shape of a double-bladed sword; 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-1.505/1997_1.505.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 19, 2024.
