Goldweight in the shape of a sword / Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire

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About this Item

Record Details

Accession Number
1997/1.514
Title
Goldweight in the shape of a sword
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)
Dimensions
6.4 cm x 1.7 cm x 0.5 cm (2 1/2 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 single-bladed, smooth sword, undecorated except for the small ball at the top of the handle.
Subject Matter
Representations of single or double-bladed royal swords are a fairly common motif for Akan goldweights, which were used and produced by Akan-speaking peoples of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire since the 15th century. Actual swords are part of a king's regalia, and are normally covered in a leather sheath, showing the ruler's distinctive insignia. The swords or sabers of the various Akan kingdoms serve distinct functions, such as the saber to announce the death of a dignitary or the one used by the king to take a loyalty oath to the throne-stool.
Rights
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Technical Details

Image Size
3888 x 2592
File Size
124 KB
Record
1997/1.514
Link to this Item
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1997-sl-1.514/1997_1.514.jpg

Rights and Permissions

Manifest
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1997-SL-1.514:1997_1.514.JPG

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Full citation
"Goldweight in the shape of a sword; 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-1.514/1997_1.514.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed March 29, 2024.
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