weight

unrecorded Asante artist

weight, late 1800s–early 1900s

Where object was made: Ghana

Material/technique: brass

Dimensions:
Object Length/Width (Length x Width): 2.3 x 1.8 cm
Object Length/Width (Length x Width): 0 11/16 x 0 7/8 in

Credit line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. H. Kenneth Palmer

Accession number: 2007.3391.09

On display: Loo Gallery

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Images

Label texts

Empire of Things

These small weights were used to weigh gold dust in West Africa from the 15th century to the pre-colonial period. Their diverse geometric and figurative forms reflect the Asante people’s spiritual beliefs and activities from daily life.

Cabinet of Curiosities

Empire of Things

Archive label for Palmer collection exhibit, date unknown: Called "gold weights", these small weights were cast of brass and used to weight gold dust; dust was placed on pan of the scale with a spoon, and weights were placed on the other pan until balanced. Gold weights were cast into a great variety of forms: geometric, zoomorphic, anthropomorphic, and genre scenes. Their symbolism or actual depictions illustrated proverbs, represented various gods, showed scenes and activities from daily life, and even told jokes, both on- and off-color.