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 an elephant tusk with two ?jawbones around the sound opening. [MJD 07/06/2011]
Geographical reference: Ghana
Africa > Western Africa > Ghana
Cultural groups: Asante
Person: Field collector Robert Powley Wild; PRM source Robert Powley Wild
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1933
Date collected: By 1933
Acquisition information: Donated: 1933
Materials and processes: Material Copper Alloy Metal, Process Lost Wax Cast
Dimensions: Width: max 15 mm, Length: max 56 mm, Weight 12 g
Object numbers: Accession number: 1933.44.58
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]

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