Mixed lot (3 items): Ghana, Ivory Coast: three gold weights of the Akan tribes (Kulango, Baule, Ashanti).
Mixed lot (3 items): Ghana, Ivory Coast: three gold weights of the Akan tribes (Kulango, Baule, Ashanti).
On the southern coast of West Africa, in the territory formerly referred to as ‘Gold Coast’, gold dust was once the typical form of currency. In order to weigh gold dust, weight systems with their own specific weights were developed, the so-called ‘gold weights’, using the lost wax casting method from yellow cast-alloy (brass).
The present mixed lot includes three ‘figural’ gold weights belonging to three different Akan tribes, who live in the modern day states of Ivory Coast and Ghana.
1: Kulango: An old figural gold weight depicting two men in a sitting position playing ‘Mancala’, a very popular board game played throughout Africa. Good, old shiny patina, the arm of one figure broken. Dimensions: 6.5 cm x 5.6 cm x 4.2 cm.
2: Baule: A gold weight with a bird on a round base plate with projections. H: 3.4 cm, diameter: c. 4.5 cm.
3: Ashanti: A gold weight with key standing on end on a three-step pyramid. H: 4.6 cm, base plate: 3 cm x 3 cm.
All three objects: First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
26.05.2015 - 15:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 800.- to EUR 1,000.-
Mixed lot (3 items): Ghana, Ivory Coast: three gold weights of the Akan tribes (Kulango, Baule, Ashanti).
On the southern coast of West Africa, in the territory formerly referred to as ‘Gold Coast’, gold dust was once the typical form of currency. In order to weigh gold dust, weight systems with their own specific weights were developed, the so-called ‘gold weights’, using the lost wax casting method from yellow cast-alloy (brass).
The present mixed lot includes three ‘figural’ gold weights belonging to three different Akan tribes, who live in the modern day states of Ivory Coast and Ghana.
1: Kulango: An old figural gold weight depicting two men in a sitting position playing ‘Mancala’, a very popular board game played throughout Africa. Good, old shiny patina, the arm of one figure broken. Dimensions: 6.5 cm x 5.6 cm x 4.2 cm.
2: Baule: A gold weight with a bird on a round base plate with projections. H: 3.4 cm, diameter: c. 4.5 cm.
3: Ashanti: A gold weight with key standing on end on a three-step pyramid. H: 4.6 cm, base plate: 3 cm x 3 cm.
All three objects: First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 26.05.2015 - 15:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 20.05. - 26.05.2015 |