Brass weight used for measuring gold; figure of a standing man carrying a ?shield, possibly representing the wicker shields used by the Asante.

Collection type: Object
Description: Brass weight used for measuring gold; figure of a standing man carrying a ?shield, possibly representing the wicker shields used by the Asante.
Geographical reference: Ghana
Africa > Western Africa > Ghana; Ashanti Province
Cultural groups: Asante
Person: Field collector Bernard Schottlander; PRM source Sara Hicks
Date / Period: Date made: Before 2000
Date collected: By 2000
Acquisition information: Bequeathed: 2000
Materials and processes: Material Brass Metal, Material Copper Alloy Metal, Process Lost Wax Cast
Dimensions: Height 67 mm, Weight 21.3 g
Object numbers: Accession number: 2000.6.5
Research and responses: According to de Kolb (1968) Ashanti Goldweights No.1, Gallery d'Hautbarr: New York, page 32 the story relating to the shield is 'OKYEM - SHIELD, were roughly of two variations - the great heraldic shields of thick hide for use in wars, and the dance shields of raffia work. Neither are to be seen in Ashanti today. Almost all the shields are hung with bells. The patterned symbolic decorations of abstract form, their meaning has been lost in time. Proverb - when a shield wears out, the framework still remains. (Men die, but their words or works may live forever.)'. [MJD 24/06/2011]

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