Gold-weight
Akan
Description
Subject Matter:
Figurative gold-weight in the form of a flat circular fan, called papa in Twi, the Akan language spoken in Ghana (cf. British Museum object number Af1947,13.245). Modelled after high status objects used by high ranking men and women, fans were often made of woven wicker frames, then decorated with luxurious textiles. These fans would have been used by attendants of elite men and women to keep them cool in the tropical environment of what is today Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire (cf. Sheales, African Goldweights, 2014).
Physical Description:
Gold-weight in the shape of a flat, circular base with a spiral design attached to a thin, cylindrical handle. Where the circular base attaches to handle, there is a semi-circular overlap with horizontal grooves.
Usage Rights:
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