Goldweight [Bird's Foot] 19th-20th century

This bronze “Goldweight [Bird’s Foot]” was crafted by the Akan people of Ghana between the 19th and 20th centuries. These small, often intricately designed weights, were used to measure gold dust, a form of currency in Akan society. The object's form, representing a bird's foot, reflects the importance of nature and symbolism in Akan culture. The goldweight is currently housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art.