Gold-weight
Akan
Description
Subject Matter:
Gold-weight with a geometric pattern of two stars.
From about 1400 to 1900, Akan-speaking peoples of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire used small, portable weights for measuring gold dust. At first, the gold-weights were primarily geometric, while figurative weights became popular from the 18th century onwards. According to some scholars, this Akan gold-weight represents a double 8-rayed star, which might be the symbol for the planet Venus, locally known as "Afi". The star is composed of two crosses, one representing the male element and the other the female element -- together they show that the union of male and female elements are necessary for procreation.
Physical Description:
Gold-weight in the shape of a rectangle with two sets of eight lines each radiating from a central point.
Usage Rights:
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