Gold weight
- Museum number:
- 5-10872
- Permalink:
- ark:/21549/hm21050010872
- Alternate number:
- B-696 (previous number (Bascom’s number))
- Accession number:
- Acc.4088
- Description:
- Ashanti gold weight; gold colored crocodile, raised up on front legs, much detail. raised, circular and incised markings on back, curved notched tail, large eyes, teeth on lowere jaw. upper jaw broken.
- 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:
- Gold-weights
- Function:
- 7.3 Weights, Measures, and Computing Devices
- Context of use:
- Associated proverbs; "The Crocodile lies in the water, but it also drinks air," (Kolb 1). "When you are in the middle of the river, don't insult the crocodile," (Kolb 11). "The old crocodile swallows a pebble every year," (Menzel). 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)
- Comment:
- Associated proverbs: “The crocodile lives in the water, but it also drinks air.” (Kolb 1) “When you are in the middle of theriver, kon’t insult the crocodile.” (Kolb 11) “The old crocodile swallows a pebble every year.” (Menzel)Used in W. Africa from 1400s to 1800s to measure gold, for trade or ranson, 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)
- Images:
-
- Legacy documentation:
-