Goldweight in geometric shape / Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1997/1.496
- Title
- Goldweight in geometric 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 cm x 1.8 cm x 0.7 cm (13/16 in. x 11/16 in. x 1/4 in.)
- Century
- 20th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Primary Object Type
- goldweight
- Physical Description
- Goldweight in the shape of a solid, undecorated square with a zigzag pattern along its edges and small, flat squares at the four corners.
- Subject Matter
- This weight is an example of a particular kind of geometric Akan gold weight, in which the weight itself takes on the shape of a particular geometric form (a square, in this case)-- in contrast to the weights where the geometric form is represented as a pattern on a solid or hollowed-out base. In some cases, the sides of flat weights like this represent, in profile, a particular geometric pattern or sign that turns up, in front, on other weights (the one being a projection of the other). The "play" between weights showing the same patterns either in profile or in front suggests a high level of technical mastery on the part of the Akan-speaking brass casters who used to make these weights. Although gold weights have not been made for use in the gold trade since the end of the 19th century, contemporary brass casters in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire continue to bring high levels of expertise to their art.
- 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
- 129 KB
- Record
- 1997/1.496
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1997-sl-1.496/1997_1.496.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1997-SL-1.496:1997_1.496.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Goldweight in geometric 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-1.496/1997_1.496.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 18, 2024.
