Unique Akan Gold Weight Collection Wall Hanging

This gold weight wall hanging is made by Tribal Art Treasures.

All the gold weights are from Akan origin and are made between the 17th and 20th century. The board measures 66 x 42.5 cm and weighs about 7kg in total. The total quantity amounts to 421 gold weights.

The gold weights are attached to the board using a small piece of gummy, which can be easily removed without leaving a trace.

General gold weight information:

Akan goldweights were used as a measuring system by the Akan people of West Africa, particularly for weighing gold dust which was used as currency until replaced by paper money and coins. They are locally referred as mrammou and the weights are made of brass and not gold. Used to weigh gold and merchandise, at first glance the goldweights look like miniature models of everyday objects. Based on the Islamic ounce, each weight had a known measurement. This provided merchants with secure and fair-trade arrangements with one another. The status of a man increased significantly if he owned a complete set of weights. Complete small sets of weights were gifts to newly wedded men. This insured that he would be able to enter the merchant trade respectably and successfully. Beyond their practical application, the weights are miniature representations of West African culture items such as Adinkra symbols, plants, animals and people.

Provenance: Private collection. F.d.G in NL / Tribal Art Treasures