b. Ghana, 20th Century

20th C.

Cast brass

1 7/8 x 2 1/8 x 1" OVERALL

Europeans collectively referred to Ghana and its surrounding regions as the Gold Coast in recognition of the lucrative resources located in West Africa. As the name suggests, gold weights were made to conform to precise standards in order to settle economic transactions among merchants. When gold dust ceased to be used as a form of currency, such objects continued to be passed down as heirlooms and have continued to be sold as souvenir items to tourists. Created through the lost-wax casting process, figurative gold weights like this one represent a later stage of Akan artistic development, with the earliest geometric style dating back to the emergence of Arab and sub-Saharan trade networks around the 9th century. The hunting scene here depicts a kneeling man with a musket aimed towards a leopard perched in a nearby tree. The visual context helps illustrate a number of Akan proverbs, which are considered a hallmark of Ghanaian art and culture.

20th Century

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Cole

1973.71