At the center of the futoo was the owner's collection of goldweights, or
mbramoo
(sing. abramoo), possibly only forty or so of the lighter ones for
average use, and
often quite eclectic, with hard seeds, metal or glass beads, stones,
European keys,
padlock or clock parts, furniture hardware, and gun parts pressed into
service so
long as these bits were accurate, compact, durable, and necessary.
There is no
such thing as a "set" of weights with consistent or
coordinated motifs or
meanings. Choices of motifs or size of weights or quality of
workmanship
appear to have been pragmatic rather than aesthetic, although a chief
was apt to
have more weights, including heavier types displaying fine workmanship
because
he needed them and could afford them. The proverb, "The weights of
a chief are
not those of the common man," seems to acknowledge this but
actually refers to
the greater burden of responsibility carried by a leader because of his
greater
power. In the early 19th century, it was mistakenly reported (
Bowdich:
293) that
royal weights were one-third heavier than those of commoners as a means
of
collecting taxes, and later writers linked the proverb to this
observation, but all
weights were actually the same. Taxes were assessed by collecting an
additional
third of the stipulated fine paid after litigation in the royal courts
(Garrard:242-
3).
As is the case with so many types of Akan metalwork, goldweights, together with most gold-handling equipment and the oldest weight standards, probably came from the Islamic north. All Akan non-ferrous metalworking was done by goldsmiths, who because of royal and noble patronage enjoyed a high social position. Goldsmiths produced all royal ornaments and regalia made of non- ferrous metals primarily by casting. The same men also made the cast-brass goldweights and storage boxes, spoons (like the brass saawa above), and larger containers used by royals and commoners alike when gold dust was the national currency. Since every adult engaged in any form of trade owned or had access to such items, the smiths were indispensable. Because they were produced by the same men, courtly arts and goldweights are frequently similar in style, subject matter, and meaning.
Last updated 29 March 1995.