Goldweight [Padlock with Key] 19th-20th century

Editor: We're looking at an Akan goldweight from the 19th or 20th century, titled "Padlock with Key," made of brass and assembled metal. It has a compelling miniature quality, making it seem like a tiny artifact with huge cultural significance. What do you make of this object? Curator: It’s important to remember that Akan goldweights, like this padlock, were far more than decorative. They served a vital economic function in pre-colonial West Africa, specifically in the gold trade. This "Padlock with Key," for instance, embodies trustworthiness, security. Given that, how might its display and understanding shift if contextualized as a tool of power within the gold trade rather than solely an artistic expression? Editor: I never considered its function influencing its form, or the trade it signifies. If the lock suggests trustworthiness, were these objects publicly displayed to establish and communicate societal values? Curator: Precisely. These weren't hidden away. Goldweights, even representational ones, would have been displayed in market settings, at court, or other occasions, underscoring honesty, or perhaps subtly conveying power and status. Considering this history, doesn’t that alter your initial assessment of it as *just* an aesthetic miniature? Editor: It definitely complicates it! I was viewing it as isolated and timeless, but its value and public display connect it to trade routes and cultural negotiations of the time. Curator: Exactly. Understanding art’s place within socio-economic and political systems, it appears not isolated at all. Editor: It’s fascinating how shifting the context reveals new layers. Thanks, I'll be researching this more.