Goldweight in the shape of a fish / Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1986/1.202
- Title
- Goldweight in the shape of a fish
- 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)
- Dimensions
- 4.2 cm x 4.1 cm x 1 cm (1 5/8 in. x 1 5/8 in. x 3/8 in.)
- Century
- Possibly 19th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Primary Object Type
- goldweight
- Physical Description
- Goldweight in the shape of an upside-down, U-shaped fish, of unknown species, with a bifurcated tail, a series of small spiraling circles along its spine, a long neck with horizontal incisions and a stylized human head with eyes, nose and mouth.
- Subject Matter
- This is an example of a figurative gold weight, as they were used among the Akan-speaking peoples of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire to weigh out units of gold dust. Representations of fish are common in Akan gold weights; this particular example might represent an imaginary fish or the invisible spirit of the water itself. As a rule, the various spirits, gods, and divinities inhabiting the Akan universe, such as the spirit of the water, have no material form and cannot be seen. However, they have the ability to take on a human or animal form (or a combination of both) and make themselves visible to privileged members of the village community on special occasions.
- Secondary Keywords
- africa (continent)
- animals
- animals and creatures
- geographic and political locations
- goldweights
- the natural world
- 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
- 168 KB
- Record
- 1986/1.202
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1986-sl-1.202/1986_1.202.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1986-SL-1.202:1986_1.202.JPG
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- Full citation
-
"Goldweight in the shape of a fish; 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-1986-sl-1.202/1986_1.202.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 05, 2024.