Copper alloy weight for weighing gold, in the form of a trumpet. [MJD 07/06/2011]

Collection type: Object
Description: Copper alloy weight for weighing gold, in the form of a trumpet. [MJD 07/06/2011]
Long description: Copper alloy weight for weighing gold, in the form of a trumpet. The trumpet is a elephant tusk with three jawbones around the sound opening. [MJD 07/06/2011]
Geographical reference: Ghana
Africa > Western Africa > Ghana; Coomassie
Cultural groups: Asante
Person: Field collector Robert Powley Wild; PRM source Robert Powley Wild
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1927
Date collected: 24 January 1927
Acquisition information: Donated: 1927
Materials and processes: Material Copper Alloy Metal, Process Lost Wax Cast
Dimensions: Length: max 54 mm, Width: max 12 mm, Weight 10 g
Object numbers: Accession number: 1927.30.64
Research and responses: According to de Kolb (1968) Ashanti Goldweights No.1, Gallery d'Hautbarr: New York, page 53 the story relating to the horn trumpet is 'Warhorns: Representing ivory warhorns, hung with human mandibles. Women are not allowed to touch or carry a horn. Most of the mandibles are used for prestigious trimming and are oddly treated - the bone itself is not white and clean, but still stuck with bits of human flesh and dried to a leathery brown'. [MJD 24/06/2011]