Goldweight [Knot] 19th-20th century

This small sculpture of a knot was made by an Akan artist from what is now Ghana. It’s a goldweight. In the past, the Akan people used intricate systems of weights and measures to trade in gold dust, their most valuable asset. This weight references a proverb - ‘when two or more people are tied together in a knot, they must assist each other’. The knot is an important symbol of unity and cooperation. Weights like these weren’t just functional objects, but also visual aids for communicating complex ideas. The openwork casting is an example of incredible skill. But to understand the purpose of this object, we need to know about the institutions of trade, the value of gold, and the role of proverbs in Akan society. By researching these elements, we can appreciate the goldweight as a cultural artifact.