Goldweight [Pierced Brass Finial with Swelling Terminals...] 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have a striking brass finial from the Akan people, dated sometime between the 19th and 20th centuries. It reminds me of an ornate vessel, perhaps for offering. What can you tell me about its story? Curator: The first thing I notice is its materiality. This isn’t simply “brass.” We must ask: Where did the brass come from? Who mined it, and under what conditions? Its creation was possible via access to resources and exploitation of labor, tell me, do you see how those factors influence the form we observe now? Editor: I hadn’t considered the source of the brass, actually. I suppose it's easy to disconnect the object from its origins. Does the fact that it's a "goldweight" give a clue to how it may have been originally valued? Curator: Precisely! How the Akan valued and used gold raises vital questions. Gold wasn't purely about currency; its worth was determined by social relations and spiritual power, how do you think these symbolic values impacted its meaning beyond simple economic transaction? Editor: So, even the artistic style -- the swirling details and that small, clinging figure – speaks to the Akan's broader relationship with resources, labor, and societal values, is that right? It’s not just a pretty design, it’s tied to all these tangible processes. Curator: Absolutely. We can analyze the maker, the method, and meaning, asking how cultural significance becomes attached to such object. This piece embodies much more than just decorative allure; it is rooted in the complex ways labor, value, and symbolism intertwined within the Akan world. Editor: This gives me much to think about. I didn’t expect to find such profound concepts within a goldweight, really seeing beyond what materials and objects become, and reflecting upon the history and value creation intertwined within! Curator: That’s the power of Materialist perspective; revealing art not as isolated genius, but deeply embedded in lived realities.