Goldweight [Stool] 19th-20th century

This brass stool was created by the Akan people, although its exact date remains unknown. Notice how the design, while small, incorporates complex geometric patterns and structural elements. The stool's form features a curved seat atop a latticework frame, all resting on a solid base. The openwork design contrasts sharply with the solid, curved top, creating a play between positive and negative space. Consider the symbolic weight of the stool in Akan culture, where it serves as a seat of power and a repository of the owner’s soul. Here, the latticework not only serves an aesthetic purpose, but also functions as a kind of semiotic grid, challenging fixed meanings and inviting multiple readings. The craftsmanship speaks to the sophisticated metalworking traditions of the Akan people. Note the interplay of geometric elements, and how these forms function to communicate ideas about power, identity, and the immaterial aspects of existence.