Box Item Number: K2.86 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Rectangular metal box (part a) with a lid (part b). The box (part a) has four concentric diamond shapes along each long side and an hour glass shape with a half diamond shape at either end of each short end. The lid (part b) has four sections of alternating concentric squares and hour glass shapes with a half diamond shape at either end bordered by lines that are perpendicular to their respective edges.

History Of Use

Used to hold powdered gold (gold dust). Historically made and used by the Akan peoples to hold powdered gold, which was used as the standard currency from the seventeenth to mid-nineteenth centuries. The blacksmiths who produced these boxes were called tounufe.

Specific Techniques

Cast using the cire-perdue (lost wax) method. The mould is made of beeswax, covered with clay, and then fired. The wax melts and the hollow clay cast is then filled with scraps of copper-based alloy, before being fired for a second time.