Goldweight [Knot] 19th-20th century

This lost-wax cast brass sculpture was made by an Akan artist in Ghana, West Africa. It's a "goldweight," and it would have been used with scales to measure quantities of gold dust. The figure represents a knot, a symbol of status, power, and interconnectedness. Gold weights like this one were not simply functional objects, but also embodied Akan proverbs and beliefs. As currency, gold dust played a crucial role in the social and economic life of the Akan people, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries when they were active in the transatlantic trade. Goldweights were owned, regulated, and taxed by the state. By commissioning and controlling goldweights like this one, leaders of the Akan people could consolidate their wealth and authority. Understanding these objects requires examining their historical context, including trade routes, colonial power dynamics, and the visual culture of the Akan people.