Visually, weights fall into two distinct categories: geometric and figurative. Stylistically they are divided into early (c. 1400-1700) and late (c. 1700-1900) periods. This object is an early period geometric weight, a rare ten-sided diamond form. Most early weights are geometric with notched or indented edges, incised surfaces, punch marks and inset copper plugs. Although geometric weights were
Visually, weights fall into two distinct categories: geometric and figurative. Stylistically they are divided into early (c. 1400-1700) and late (c. 1700-1900) periods. This object is an early period geometric weight. Most early weights are geometric with notched or indented edges, incised surfaces, punch marks and inset copper plugs. Although geometric weights were still made during the late peri
Although often identified with the Asante, the most numerous and best known of the Akan peoples, weights for measuring gold dust were made and used throughout Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. For more than five centuries, from about 1400 to 1900, Akan smiths cast weights of immense diversity. Their small size made them portable and easy to trade. Each weight was cast individually in the lost-wax method. W
Visually, weights fall into two distinct categories: geometric and figurative. Stylistically they are divided into early (c. 1400-1700) and late (c. 1700-1900) periods. This object is an early period geometric weight. Most early weights are geometric with notched or indented edges, incised surfaces, punch marks and inset copper plugs. Although geometric weights were still made during the late peri
Visually, weights fall into two distinct categories: geometric and figurative. Stylistically they are divided into early (c. 1400-1700) and late (c. 1700-1900) periods. This object is an early period geometric weight. Most early weights are geometric with notched or indented edges, incised surfaces, punch marks and inset copper plugs. Although geometric weights were still made in the late period,