GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Goldweights are counterweights used for measuring amounts of gold dust with a balance scale. They were made to match the weight standards of Akan trading partners. The shapes of goldweights evolved from geometric to figurative. The earliest goldweights were made of stone, copper, iron, or basalt. As the trans-Saharan trade routes became more established, the Akan learned the technique of brass casting from their North African trading partners, which allowed them to create figurative goldweights. These utilitarian objects gained significance because their imagery signified one or more proverbs or maxims. By tradition, weights were only owned by adult males who traded. Akan rulers established their own special sets.
Excerpt from
- Roslyn Walker, The Power of Gold: Asante Royal Regalia from Ghana, Label text, 2018.
NOTES
ASSOCIATED CONTENT CHUNKS
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
- Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History~Explore the history of the gold trade.
- The British Museum~Learn more about gold-weights.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
apply to objects where title contains gold weight
apply to objects where culture contains asante
Category
rules_operator
AND
General Description
Goldweights are counterweights used for measuring amounts of gold dust with a balance scale. They were made to match the weight standards of Akan trading partners. The shapes of goldweights evolved from geometric to figurative. The earliest goldweights were made of stone, copper, iron, or basalt. As the trans-Saharan trade routes became more established, the Akan learned the technique of brass casting from their North African trading partners, which allowed them to create figurative goldweights. These utilitarian objects gained significance because their imagery signified one or more proverbs or maxims. By tradition, weights were only owned by adult males who traded. Akan rulers established their own special sets.
Excerpt from
- Roslyn Walker, The Power of Gold: Asante Royal Regalia from Ghana, Label text, 2018.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
- Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History~Explore the history of the gold trade.
- The British Museum~Learn more about gold-weights.
Notes
rules
Apply To
Objects
title
Contains
gold weight
Apply To
Objects
culture
Contains
asante
source file
cultures_and_traditions-0068.xml.nores