Akan gold weight
Akan gold weight in the shape of a cannon. The Akan are a group of related peoples who live in central and southern Ghana and the eastern part of the Ivory Coast. From the late 14th century, when they imported the technique of metal casting from North Africa, the Akan people of central and southern Ghana developed a system of weights for measuring gold dust, which was their main currency. By the 17th century the Akan also began producing weights that related to European standards based on the ounce. During the 18th and 19th centuries, gold weights developed as an art form as well as units of measure. They remained in use until the late 1800s. Weights were often made from brass, and represented a wide range of artefacts in use in Akan society.
For more information about using images from our Collection, please contact RMG Images.
Object Details
ID: | ZBA2441 |
---|---|
Collection: | World Cultures; Special collections |
Type: | Weight |
Display location: | Not on display |
Creator: | Unknown |
Date made: | 19th century |
Exhibition: | The Atlantic: Slavery, Trade, Empire; Exploration and Cultural Encounters |
Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Michael Graham-Stewart Slavery Collection. Acquired with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund |
Measurements: | Overall: 30 x 50 x 19 mm |
Your Request
If an item is shown as “offsite”, please allow eight days for your order to be processed. For further information, please contact Archive staff:
Email: library@rmg.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 8312 6516 (during Library opening hours)
Click “Continue” below to continue processing your order with the Library team.