Goldweight [Crab] 19th-20th century

Editor: This diminutive sculpture, an Akan goldweight in the form of a crab, crafted from brass, likely dates from the 19th or 20th century. The materiality of the brass and the small scale… what strikes you most about this object? Curator: Immediately, I consider the means of production. Brass wasn’t readily available; its creation and manipulation required specialized knowledge and access to resources. How does its existence as a trade commodity affect its cultural significance? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. I was just thinking about the craftsmanship involved. Is the artistic value lessened or changed by its use in trade? Curator: Not lessened, reframed. The goldweight served a specific function within a complex economic system, embedded with symbolic value about status and reliability. Each casting represents labor, both the maker and the miner. What’s the cost of this crab’s existence? Editor: So you're saying that its value isn’t just aesthetic but is inextricably linked to the processes of its creation and use? Curator: Precisely. Consider the implications of its potential mass production versus its hand-crafted nature. Even the eventual wearing down of the brass over time through handling and trade impacts meaning! It's a material record. Editor: Thinking about it as a record really does deepen my understanding. Thanks for offering this insight! Curator: And thank you! Considering the life cycle of this object offers us unique ways of seeing.