SOLD: Goldweight Pangolin, Ghana
SOLD: Goldweight Pangolin, Ghana
Akan People, Asante, Ghana, Africa
19th Century
Bronze
1.25 x 1.25 in./ 3 x 3 cm
Height on custom display stand: 3.5 in. / 9 cm
Inventory #ABT
The pangolin represents the African proverb "Don't sell me pangolin meat for I have no onions" - don't bring me unnecessary trouble.
The weights of the Akan peoples of the former African Gold Coast were in use from about 1400 to 1900, for the weighing of gold dust.
Before the 16th century, gold weights were mainly geometric in design. The "newer" figured weights were intended for practical use as prestige weights and usually represented Akan proverbs.
Goldweights were made from copper alloys using the lost wax technique (also called "cire perdue" or "lost mold").
In 1899 the use of gold dust as a means of payment was banned in Ghana by the British.
Domestic shipping included. International shipping is quoted separately.