A small man leans forward under the weight of a woven basket strapped to his back, his head wrapped in a cloth, his face tilted up with a broad, open-mouthed grin. Both hands grip a long, curved staff, a coil of beads rests at his neck, and his feet are planted on a round, flat base. The basket is cast with a fine cross-hatched weave and loop handles at the rim, and the brass has settled into a golden-brown patina, with pink-copper showing where it has been handled. This antique cast brass figure follows the Akan tradition of figurative brass goldweights, small lost-wax castings of people at work that were used to weigh gold dust and tied to proverbs about daily life. It is the kind of small, closely observed figure that makes a collection.

At 4 inches tall and 2.5 inches wide, it fits on a bookshelf, desk, nightstand or windowsill, where the basket holds a pin, a ring or a tea light. It sits well in a group with other small figures of different heights.

• Era: Antique
• Origin: Ghana (Akan)
• Material: Cast brass
• Size: 2.5"(W) x 2"(D) x 4"(H)
• Color: Golden brown with copper
• Condition: Wear consistent with age and use, part of its character and historical value. Worn patina with small green traces and surface pitting.

This antique Akan style cast brass figure from Ghana shows a man carrying a woven basket on his back and leaning on a staff, on a round base. It measures 2.5 inches wide, 2 inches deep and 4 inches tall, with a golden-brown patina. It suits a bookshelf, desk or windowsill.

Q: What were Akan goldweights used for?
A: Akan goldsmiths cast brass weights, many in the shape of people, animals and objects, to measure gold dust, which served as money in trade. The figures are tied to proverbs about daily life and were used in pairs of scales so both sides of a deal could check the weight of the gold.

Q: Where does a miniature brass figure work in a room?
A: Place it on a bookshelf, desk or windowsill at eye level, with a little space around it so the outline reads clearly. A small group of figures at different heights looks best on one shelf or a tray.

**Please bear in mind that colors of products shown may vary slightly from their original color due to monitor display settings or photography studio