The Museum is temporarily closed for maintenance until Spring 2025.

Ghanaian Gold Weight

This is a Ghanaian gold weighing weight made around 1860. The 3cm tall weight is made from cast copper alloy was used for weighing gold, it shows a lone man cutting bark in to the shape of a bowl.

It is essentially a depiction of the well-known proverb “Many hands make light work”.

It was found in Ghana and in use by one of the tribes associated with the Akan speaking nations.

The Akan reside in the southern regions of the former Gold Coast region now known as Ghana.

Akans now have a population of roughly 20 million people. The Akan language comprises a group of dialects within the Central Tano branch of the Potou–Tano subfamily of the Niger–Congo family.

The object forms part of the Ponder collection and can be seen in the Explorers Gallery at TorquayMuseum.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_people

Support Torquay Museum

Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be raising free donations for Torquay Museum with easyfundraising? Find out how!

Find out more