Akan Ghana Gold Powder Weighing Weights 19th Century

Magnificent weight for weighing gold powder representing a river or backwater fish, one of the most richly illustrated themes of Akan figurines. Bibliography: Our round and flat example can be compared to figure number 6 at the bottom of the page or figure number 2 at the top of page 211 of André Blandin's book "Bronzes and other alloys". (see photos) Many proverbs refer to these fish. Examples: "If the fish in the river grows, it is for its master the crocodile" "The fish never asks for a drink", "When the fish cries, it is because of the water that we do not see its tears". Good condition Dimensions: 4 x 5 cm Akan Ghana 19th century Provenance: Former collection of Mr. Olivier Richet, constituted by the latter between the 1950s and 1980s. This was the subject of a study and an inventory established on October 6, 1981 by Mrs. Eid, documentalist at the Museum of African and Oceanic Arts of the Porte Dorée, at the request of Mr. C. Noll, curator of the African arts section. Sold with certificate of authenticity from the expert Serge Reynes