Goldweight [Bird] 19th-20th century

This small bronze sculpture, dating back to the 19th or 20th century, was created by the Akan people of Ghana. It depicts a bird, likely a heron, with a long, elegant neck and detailed feathers. The bird stands on a square base with a decorative pattern. These goldweights, traditionally made of brass, were used to balance scales for weighing gold dust, a valuable commodity in Akan society. Each weight, often with unique designs, could have different meanings related to proverbs, stories, or social structures. The "Bird" weight, found in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is a beautiful example of Akan artistic expression.