Akan gold weight - €75.00

Akan gold weights, called mram or ahindra-yobwe in the Twi language, renowned in West African art, are much more than simple measuring instruments: they constitute a unique cultural and symbolic heritage in West Africa.

These small brass or bronze figurines, used from the 15th to the early 20th century, served to weigh gold dust, a major form of currency in the Akan kingdoms (Ashanti, Baoulé, Fanti, etc.), located primarily in Ghana and Ivory Coast. Their precision, often less than 2.5 ounces, testifies to remarkable craftsmanship, calibrated using the seeds of Abrus precatorius.

What makes these objects exceptional is their dual function: practical and symbolic. Each weight represents an element of daily life, nature, or Akan mythology – animals, plants, tools, scenes of social life, or Adinkra symbols. They thus form a veritable “miniature museum,” illustrating the values, proverbs, and founding narratives of the society. For example, a crocodile-shaped weight might evoke patience, while a seated human figure recalls the importance of wisdom and collective deliberation.

The Akan are particularly famous for these objects because their economic system was based on gold, an abundant resource in the region. The weights, kept in leather or fabric cases called dja, were much more than mere tools of commerce: they were status markers, prestige objects, and even educational materials, transmitting the philosophy and history of the people. Their use was overseen by specialists, often connected to the royal court, emphasizing their sacred and political dimension.

Ashanti Akua'ba doll - €345.00

The traditional akua’ba (or akua ba) statues are iconic figurines of the Ashanti people (Ghana).

Carved from light, patinated wood (as seen here with this black patina), they represent a stylized woman with a disc-shaped head, cylindrical neck, reduced arms, tubular body, and ritual scarifications, particularly on the back of the head, where the motifs are not chosen randomly but follow a precise set of codes.

Their name means "child of Akua," the goddess of fertility. Carried on the back by pregnant women or those trying to conceive, these sacred dolls are offered at altars after consulting a diviner to ensure a healthy pregnancy and an uncomplicated birth.

Item brought in during the 1960s by its first owner who subsequently sold it.

Héritage Galerie - Art Africain Traditionnel

Akan gold weight - €75.00

Ashanti Akua'ba doll - €345.00