The earliest goldweights were made of stone, copper, iron, or basalt. As the trans-Saharan trade routes became more established, the Akan learned the technique of brass casting from their North African trading partners, which allowed them to create figurative goldweights, such as this example depicting a seated male on a low stool. These utilitarian objects gained significance because their imagery often signified a proverb or maxim.

Adapted from

• Roslyn Walker, The Power of Gold: Asante Royal Regalia from Ghana, Gallery text, "Weighing Gold," 2018.

• Roslyn Walker, The Power of Gold: Asante Royal Regalia from Ghana, Label text, 2018.