Goldweight [Striped Fish] 19th-20th century

Editor: This small brass sculpture, an Akan goldweight shaped like a striped fish, dates from the 19th or 20th century. I'm struck by how stylized it is; the stripes are so clearly delineated. What does this piece say to you? Curator: I find it fascinating to consider the process of its creation. Brass casting, particularly using the lost wax method common in Akan art, involved a complex understanding of materials and heat. Who were the artisans producing these goldweights, and what was their social standing? Were they considered craftspeople or artists? Editor: That's interesting, I hadn't considered the social dynamics of its creation. Curator: Exactly. And beyond the individual artisan, think about the broader economic context. Goldweights were integral to trade, representing value and regulating exchange. The materiality of brass itself, its durability and inherent worth, reinforced the reliability of the system. The fish form could refer to proverbs related to wealth, skill, or community. Editor: So, the materiality of the brass and the symbol of the fish both contributed to its value and meaning within the Akan society? Curator: Precisely. Furthermore, the object's form connects to wider aesthetic and spiritual beliefs concerning form and design within West African Art. How does it question our traditional boundaries between art, craft, and economic tool? Editor: I'm beginning to see how it's not just about the finished product but about the whole system of production, trade, and even belief. I'll definitely be looking at art through a new lens from now on! Curator: That is what art history is about, broadening the horizons. This small object reveals so much about a society's values and how those values were materially manifested and circulated.