Goldweight with a Geometric Design

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Brass-cast gold weights were used to measure gold dust, the local currency in the Akan-speaking regions of southern Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire between the 15th and 20th centuries. Made of a copper alloy, the gold weights enabled merchants to trade with towns in the Sahel region and North Africa and later with the Portuguese and the Dutch. The designs of gold weights are incredibly diverse, from simple geometries to designs referencing local proverbs. This small, square weight has a relatively tall base and consists of a raised abstract rectangle with four linear pieces removed. While interpretations of such abstract patterns are speculative, some do have parallels in architecture and textile design.

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