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African & Tribal Art :
Akan Goldweights : Akan Gold Weight (abrammuo)
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Akan Gold Weight (abrammuo) - SP.096
Origin: Ghana
Circa: 19
th
Century AD
Collection: African Art
Style: Akan
Medium: Brass
$2,400.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
This attractive miniature sculpture is actually a gold-weight made by the Akan peoples of what was once appositely named the Gold Coast – now Ghana. The Akan are a loose assemblage of tribes – including the Akuapem, the Akyem, the Ashanti, the Baoulé, the Anyi, the Brong, the Fante and the Nzema – that share general cultural trends while maintaining separate tribal identities. Their society is highly ritualised, with a main deity, and a host of lesser gods that are connected with the natural world. The society is ruled by Asantahenes, and a host of minor chiefs. The Akan attracted colonial attention from Europeans, then Islamic groups, due to the long history of gold mining and working in the area, which has been taking place for at least 600 years. The Akan consider gold to be the embodiment of sunlight and a physical manifestation of life’s vital force, or “kra”. It underpins the economy, and is used for the manufacture of royal regalia and many aspects of elite life. Weights such as this were of standard weight and volume, and were used to measure gold to deal with traders who came from across Africa to deal in the precious metal. This particular piece is unusual in terms of its depiction, which resembles that of the Dogon people of Mali.
- (SP.096)
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