Goldweight with a Geometric Design
Asante
18th/19th century
Medium
Copper alloy
Dimensions
0.5 × 2 × 2.1 cm (3/16 × 13/16 × 7/8 in.)
Classification
gold-weight
Department
Arts of Africa
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
55214
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The relatively complex design of this gold weight consists of two comb-like elements on either end separated by a single diagonal raised line that covers a generous center section, producing separate matrices in which two circular elements are positioned. It is probable that the weight was originally square; however, the edges have been irregularly trimmed off to form a rough hexagon. Gold weights were used to measure gold dust, the local currency in the Akan-speaking regions of southern Ghana a...