Goldweight in the shape of a key / Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1997/1.511
- Title
- Goldweight in the shape of a key
- 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
- 9.6 cm x 0.9 cm x 1.8 cm (3 3/4 in. x 3/8 in. x 11/16 in.)
- Century
- 20th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Primary Object Type
- goldweight
- Physical Description
- Goldweight in the shape of a key, with two series of three lines around the body.
- Subject Matter
- The representation of domestic objects is a common motif in Akan goldweights, yet the meaning of the key represented here goes beyond that of an ordinary household object. European-style keys and padlocks began to be imported to the Akan-speaking regions of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire from the 16th or 17th century onwards, and were used to secure large chests containing clothes and other valuables. Keys soon came to stand for power and wealth, particularly the power of the state, as it became custom to keep bunches of keys as part of the treasure of the various Akan states. The importance of keys as a symbol of power is complemented by the use of "key" metaphors in Akan proverbs, such as the following: "One question acts as the key to another."
- Secondary Keywords
- africa (continent)
- components
- components and systems
- components by general context
- geographic and political locations
- goldweights
- hardware
- keys and key components
- 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
- 181 KB
- Record
- 1997/1.511
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1997-sl-1.511/1997_1.511.jpg
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Related Links
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- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1997-SL-1.511:1997_1.511.JPG
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- Full citation
-
"Goldweight in the shape of a key; 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-1.511/1997_1.511.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 12, 2024.
