Goldweight / Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire

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About this Item

Record Details

Accession Number
1997/1.403
Title
Goldweight
Artist Nationality
Ghanaian
Medium and Support
brass
Object Creation Date
1900-1985
Object Creation Place
Africa (continent)
Ghana (nation)
Creation Place 1
Africa (continent)
Creation Place 2
Ghana (nation)
Dimensions
2 cm x 2.1 cm x 2.5 cm (13/16 in. x 13/16 in. x 1 in.)
Century
20th century
Primary Object Classification
Metalwork
Primary Object Type
goldweight
Physical Description
Goldweight in the shape of a solid pyramid, with a small piece of rope attached to the hole on top.
Subject Matter
Among Akan-speaking peoples of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, goldweights were widely used as instruments of the gold trade that was carried out between the 15th and 19th centuries. However, some of the weights might have had other uses besides trade. Some were used as protective devices or amulets, to bring good health or good fortune to people, or to protect them from harm. The small loop on top of this weight, with part of a rope attached to it, suggests that it might have been used as such an amulet.
Rights
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Technical Details

Image Size
3888 x 2592
File Size
251 KB
Record
1997/1.403
Link to this Item
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1997-sl-1.403/1997_1.403.jpg

Rights and Permissions

Manifest
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1997-SL-1.403:1997_1.403.JPG

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Full citation
"Goldweight; 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-1.403/1997_1.403.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed March 29, 2024.
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