Skip to main content
  1. Art
  2. The Collection

Gold-weight

Akan

Artwork Details

Gold-weight
1900-1985
Akan
brass
1 11/16 x 15/16 x 1/16 in. (4.4 x 2.4 x 0.3 cm); ; ;
Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis
1997/1.478

Tags

Description

Subject Matter:

Gold-weight in the shape of what has been called a 'cogwheel'. According to Garrard, this form may have been one of the earliest independently developed by the Akan (cf. Garrard, Akan Weights and the Gold Trade, 1980, pp. 278-279). Circular and semi-circular shapes are fairly common among the abstract weights, which are possibly the oldest and most numerous kind. 

Physical Description:

Gold-weight in the shape of a flat semi-circle with notched edge decorated with horizontal incisions. 

Usage Rights:

If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.