Goldweight [Double Gong] 19th-20th century

This bronze double gong goldweight was created by an Akan artist. Goldweights such as this one were not merely functional objects used for trade, but also potent visual statements within the cultural landscape of the Akan people. As signifiers of status and wealth, goldweights played a crucial role in a society where gold was not just a commodity, but a symbol of power. The double gong suggests a connection to music and performance, integrating the aural into the visual culture. Goldweights offer a glimpse into the world of the Akan people, reflecting their sophisticated systems of trade, hierarchy, and artistic expression. They are a testament to the ingenuity of a culture that transformed the mundane into the meaningful, and the material into the metaphorical.