Goldweight [Quadruped] 19th-20th century

Editor: We’re looking at an Akan goldweight, likely from the 19th or 20th century. It's a small, brass sculpture of a quadruped. The detail is amazing, considering the size, and you can almost feel the weight in your hand. What stands out to you? Curator: The primary interest, for me, lies in understanding how these goldweights were made and used within the Akan social and economic system. The lost-wax casting process is inherently fascinating, and understanding how the brass was sourced and worked reveals a lot about trade networks of the time. Editor: Trade networks? So, the material itself tells a story? Curator: Exactly. This seemingly simple brass sculpture is a product of complex labor relations and material exchange. How did its production affect social structure? Was this particular goldweight produced locally or imported? Such factors highlight how everyday objects were deeply entwined with economics, and that dictates cultural identity. Editor: So, more than just admiring the animal form, you’re interested in the…life cycle of the metal? Curator: Precisely! Think of the labor: mining, smelting, casting, trading. Each step reflects specific power dynamics within Akan society and its interaction with the broader world. It challenges this very Western tendency to divorce object from its moment of origin, to depoliticize materiality itself! Consider who profited from its creation and how it impacted access to wealth. Editor: That’s… a very different lens than I usually use when looking at sculpture. It’s making me rethink what art even *is.* I see how labor transforms something, not just aesthetics. Curator: Indeed. Hopefully, this provokes thinking more broadly, from raw material, to process and circulation! Editor: Definitely gives you a greater appreciation, realizing this tiny piece tells a bigger story about culture and work!