Abamphruwa (gold-dust box)
Akan merchants and family heads deployed an array of implements related to the handling of gold-dust currency. These included measuring spoons, scales, gold weights, and embellished boxes called abamphruwa. In a rare flourish, birds sculpted in miniature line the lids of these containers, which may have doubled as weights. Their presence suggests the Twi proverb, Anõma ne nua nè nea o ne no da, roughly translated as “birds of a feather flock together.”
Artwork Details
- Title: Abamphruwa (gold-dust box)
- Artist: Asante-Akan artist
- Date: 19th–first quarter of 20th century
- Geography: Ghana
- Culture: Asante
- Medium: Brass
- Dimensions: H. 1 1/4 × W. 1 1/2 × D. 3 3/16 in. (3.2 × 3.8 × 8.2 cm)
- Classification: Metal-Containers
- Credit Line: The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
- Object Number: 1979.206.180a, b
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Asante-Akan artist
early–mid-20th century
Asante-Akan artist
early–mid-20th century
Asante-Akan artist
early–mid-20th century
Asante-Akan artist
First half of 20th century
Asante-Akan artist
ca. 1910–1940
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.