Goldweight in triangular shape / Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1997/1.490
- Title
- Goldweight in triangular shape
- 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
- 2.6 cm x 1.8 cm x 0.5 cm (1 in. x 11/16 in. x 3/16 in.)
- Century
- 20th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Primary Object Type
- goldweight
- Physical Description
- Goldweight in the shape of a triangle, bearing undecorated lines along the edges of its shape and across the middle, with a small protrusion in the middle of the triangle's base.
- Subject Matter
- Akan-speaking informants from Ghana explained to the German anthropologist Brigitte Menzel that triangular goldweights such as this one represent either pendants for necklaces or amulets worn by Asante Muslims. Interestingly, other sources indicate that goldweights themselves were sometimes used as amulets, guarding their wearer against harm or ensuring good health and good fortune. The small protrusion in the middle of triangle' s base is consistent with both the goldweight as a representation of a pendant or amulet, or of its actual use as such.
- Secondary Keywords
- africa (continent)
- descriptors
- design elements
- geographic and political locations
- goldweights
- motifs
- 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
- 144 KB
- Record
- 1997/1.490
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1997-sl-1.490/1997_1.490.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1997-SL-1.490:1997_1.490.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Goldweight in triangular shape; 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-1.490/1997_1.490.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 18, 2024.
