Akan gold weights - Mancala players - Ghana

Long before the 15th century and the first commercial relations with Europe, the constituent tribes of AKAN used gold dust as currency. And, at that time, the soil of this region (Ghana and current Ivory Coast) was full of gold. It was the Mande people who acted as intermediaries between Akan and the Arab traders who sent this gold to the Mediterranean.

To weigh this gold, the AKAN people had become experts in creating bronze weights made with lost wax molds.

Initially, the weights were of relatively classical shapes but, from 1700 and until 1900, the weights became much more figurative.

The weight that we present to you must be dated from the end of this period (probably after 1850). It depicts a man and a woman seated and playing Mancala. The quality of the object is perfect without the slightest lack.

Some attribute it to the Ashante tribe, others to the Kulango tribe.

This type of weight is quite rare to find on the market. A similar sale was made in 2015 by Dorotheum. Another similar weight is display at the Horniman Museum.

Weight of 254 grams

Dimensions: 8.5cm x 6.5cm x 8.5cm