The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 29, 2024

Gold Weight (abrammuo): Drum with Jaws of Defeated Enemies

Gold Weight (abrammuo): Drum with Jaws of Defeated Enemies

1800s
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Representations of human jawbones surround the edge of this gold weight.

Description

The wealth and power of the Asante kingdom was derived primarily from its massive gold resources. Since at least 1600, small weights in brass and bronze were used to weight gold dust and nuggets. The royal court had the most elaborate store of weights, while commoners often had about a dozen. Their imagery falls into two broad cateogries: geometric and representational. The latter often refers to proverbs, which used judiciously, marked a wise person.
  • 1969–
    Mr. and Mrs. Alvin N. Haas, Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1969–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Year in Review: 1969. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 27-February 22, 1970).
  • {{cite web|title=Gold Weight (abrammuo): Drum with Jaws of Defeated Enemies|url=false|author=|year=1800s|access-date=29 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1969.266