Goldweight [Sheild] 19th-20th century

This brass goldweight, shaped like a shield, was made by the Akan people. Its small size belies a sophisticated interplay of form and function. Notice how the rigid geometry of the rectangular frame is softened by the rounded nodes at each corner, creating a balance between structure and fluidity. The interior lattice-work, with its radiating and parallel lines, offers a study in contrasts. The lines give a sense of both containment and expansion, protection and openness. Consider how the artist has deployed a limited vocabulary of shapes and lines to create a complex visual statement. It invites a semiotic reading, where the "shield" form signifies not just defense but also status and cultural identity within the Akan society. The linear elements might be seen as encoding principles of community, connection, and hierarchy. It is an object with an ongoing potential for meaning.