"Chief's Weight" Goldweight
Akan, Ghana
Brass
19th Century

Goldweights were produced as a part of the goldsmith's trade over a period of five centuries. They eventually became objects of general and daily use while still remaining items of prestige. As one might expect of a vibrant culture, they reflect the continuous dialectic of tradition and change. 

After a long period of varying weight standards, two common standard units prevailed: the nsoansa (4.4 grams) and the substantially larger pereguan (16 times larger, 70.4 grams). Weights much larger than the pereguan are more rare and known as "chiefs' weights" since few ordinary transactions called for such measures. Some of the very largest, reserved by chiefs primarily for judiciary use in measuring fines and village penalties, show little wear. They can nevertheless be of considerable age since large weights were often kept in a treasury or only used for display (Phillips, African Goldweights, 2010). 

Weight: 295g

2.25 x 2 in :: 6 x 5 cm

InventoryID #13-1767

Price on Request