Ashanti gold weight. brass figures, three drummers on a flat base. (one missing) one drummer with drum under left arm; second drummer resting drum on ground; middle drummer missing. tarnishedon flat base. 199.4 grams.
Donor:
Berta Bascom
Collection place:
Ghana
Verbatim coll. place:
Ghana, Ashanti
Culture or time period:
Ashanti
Collector:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Materials:
Brass (alloy)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Drums (membranophones) and Gold-weights
Function:
7.3 Weights, Measures, and Computing Devices
Context of use:
Used in West Africa from 1400's through 1800's to measure gold, for trade or ransom, as charms or amulets, in the observance of customs, and to send messages.
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
length 9 inches, length 6 inches, and 3 inches
Comment:
Used in Africa form 1400s to 1800s to measure gold, for trade or ransom, as charms or amulets, in the observance of customs and to send messages.Ref: Garrard, Timothy. Akan Weights and the Gold Trade, Longman Group Ltd, London and New York, 1980; PAHMA Storage Loc: 20A, V -28-6. Native name: abrammuo, abrambo, or brambo = goldweight
Loans:
S1965-1966 #15: Oakland Public Museum (September 16, 1965–November 10, 1965)