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Goldweight in the shape of a pyramid / Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1997/1.380
- Title
- Goldweight in the shape of a pyramid
- 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
- 1.8 cm x 1.8 cm x 2.3 cm (11/16 in. x 11/16 in. x 7/8 in.)
- Century
- 20th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Primary Object Type
- goldweight
- Physical Description
- Goldweight in the shape of a step pyramid.
- Subject Matter
- Goldweights have long been used by the Akan-speaking peoples of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, and the representation of a step pyramid, like in this example, is a common motif. The oldest Akan goldweights were presumably made of stone, and the shape of abstract or stylized metal weights such as this one might well have been inspired by the earlier stone weights. Another interpretation is that the step pyramid form was part of the Akan mathematical system.
- Secondary Keywords
- africa (continent)
- associated concepts
- geographic and political locations
- geometric concepts
- geometric figures
- goldweights
- mathematical concepts
- people and culture
- polyhedra
- scientific concepts
- solids (geometric)
- 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
- 129 KB
- Record
- 1997/1.380
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1997-sl-1.380/1997_1.380.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1997-SL-1.380:1997_1.380.JPG
Cite this Item
View the Help Guide for more information.
- Full citation
-
"Goldweight in the shape of a pyramid; 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-1.380/1997_1.380.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 25, 2024.
