ASHANTI FIGURAL GOLD WEIGHT, FROM NATURE C.1900, ex: Sir Cecil Armitage Collection

Bronze, just under 1” height, in the form of a tropical seed. Made from nature, using an actual seed encased in the molding material and fired which burned the seed out allowing the molten metal to replace it. Gold dust was the currency of the slave and ivory trade. These weights were used on balance beam scales to measure it for transactions. After an exemplary military career in Africa, Sir Cecil Armitage was made Governor of Gambia (1921-27). He was fascinated by the arts of East Africa, particularly those cast in bronze and formed a collection, largely related to the gold weights and containers which served the slave trade at that time.