Ashanti Bronze Gold Weight

Two crossing diagonals divide the face like a folded envelope, edged with fine teeth.

This Ashanti bronze gold weight is Ashanti, from Ghana, West Africa. Weights were used with small scales and spoons by traders, and sets were often kept in decorated boxes or pouches. On view, a slightly irregular square plaque has a large X pattern forming four triangles, with a toothed, ridged border at the top and bottom. The pale silvery surface is warmed by gold lines along each raised edge. It is 1.63 inches wide, 0.25 deep and 1.63 high.

Orderly to the last ridge, with only a slight lean.