Gold weight

Museum number:
5-10877
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21050010877
Alternate number:
B-573 (previous number (Bascom’s number))
Accession number:
Acc.4088
Description:
Ashanti gold weight. warri board. 14 honey-comb sized cells. smooth worn surface, 2 cells capped over. 22.8 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:
Gold-weights
Function:
7.3 Weights, Measures, and Computing Devices
Context of use:
Associated proverb; "To Play oware, one must know the rules." 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 2 centimeters, width 2 centimeters, and height 5 centimeters
Comment:
Notation on verso of card: Associated Proverb: “To play Oware, one must know the rules.” 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. PAHMA Storage Loc: V-28-6. Native name: abrammuo, abrambo, or brambo = goldweight
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 2 titled Gold weight, accession number 5-10877, described as Ashanti gold weight. warri board. 14 honey-comb sized cells. smooth worn surface, 2 cells capped over. 22.8 grams.Hearst Museum object 2 of 2 titled Gold weight, accession number 5-10877, described as Ashanti gold weight. warri board. 14 honey-comb sized cells. smooth worn surface, 2 cells capped over. 22.8 grams.
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Gold weight, accession number 5-10877, described as Ashanti gold weight. warri board. 14 honey-comb sized cells. smooth worn surface, 2 cells capped over. 22.8 grams.

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