0Item(s)

You have no items in your shopping cart.

Product was successfully added to your shopping cart.

5 rare antique gold weights

In stock

€60.00

Quick Overview

Akan gold weights were used as a measuring system by the Akan people of West Africa, particularly for weighing gold dust which was currency until replaced by paper money and coins. They are referred to locally as mrammou and the weights are made of brass and not gold. Used to weigh gold and merchandise, at first glance the gold weights look like miniature models of everyday objects. Based on the Islamic weight system, each weight had a known measurement. This provided merchants with secure and fair-trade arrangements with one another. The status of a man increased significantly if he owned a complete set of weights. Complete small sets of weights were gifts to newly wedded men. This insured that he would be able to enter the merchant trade respectably and successfully. Beyond their practical application, the weights are miniature representations of West African culture items such as adinkra symbols, plants, animals and people.

Additional Information

Reference BH59S
Dimensions 27 x 12 x 7mm et 15g the smaller; 29 x 24 x 6mm et 30g the largest.
Weight 0.1190