Gold-weight
Akan
Description
Subject Matter:
Gold-weight in a comb-like geometric design. See: T. Phillips, African Goldweights: Miniature Sculptures from Ghana 1400-1900, pp.87-88
Geometric gold-weights often bear decorations and symbols similar to designs in other media created by Akan-speaking peoples, such as stamped cloth (adinkra). Similar patterns on different media show the relationship between form, ornamentation, and function. For example, adampan, the open-fronted verandas that were used to conduct business, link gold-weights and wall murals to a shared economic transactional context.
See: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/online_research_catalogues/agw/african_gold-weights.aspx
Sheales, Fiona, African Goldweights, London, BMP, 2014
Physical Description:
Gold-weight in the shape of a rectangular bar with a shallow dip on the front surrounded by small engraved vertical lines.
Usage Rights:
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