The depiction of elephants are among the rarest forms of Akan gold weights. Dating to the early nineteenth-century, this gold weight depicts an elephant with a long outstretched trunk, which is artistically balanced by one of its large curved tusks. The other tusk is missing - whether this was deliberately removed to create a counter weight, or whether this was the result of a fault in the original casting, is not known. The represented elephant displays a lot of character, from its exaggerated trunk and tusk, to its small round eyes and flattened ears. The surface of the gold weight has developed a smooth and worn patina over time.
This weight came from the collection of the late Seward Kennedy, a long respected dealer/collector in the London art market.
Estimated Period: 19th Century or Before
Ex Private Collection, London (Seward Kennedy Collection)
Length: 12cm
Height: 3.4cm
MNM.GDO
(Click on images to enlarge)
