Asante Metal Weights

The University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Permanent Art Collection houses 46 brass weights originating from the Akan Kingdom of West Africa.

Akan Artists casted molten brass into an earthen mold formed by hand around a wax sculpture. As the molten alloy entered the mold, the wax melted away; allowing the liquid metal to fill the internal cavern and cool before artists broke away the mold. Removal of the mold left behind a one-of-a-kind, highly detailed, three-dimensional sculpture. 

Carried to market settings by members of the Akan Kingdom, these brass sculptures were a foundational object of Akan economic activity as they measured quantities of gold dust for centuries. Metal weights fell out of use following the conclusion of the Anglo - Asante wars (1809 - 1900). British Imperialists began enforcing the pound currency system after the Akan kingdom was annexed by the Britsh empire at the turn of the 19th century.

The Asante people are an ethnic subgroup of the Akan Kingdom identified as speakers of the Twi language. Asante people and their associated cultural customs are located and practiced across the North Western region of Africa, with past and present populations concentrated in Ghana. Asante culture has continued to thrive in Ghana due to the dedication of the people to their traditional ceremonies and ritual.

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During his term as the department chair of Fine Arts, Kenneth Campbell (1966 - 1968), visited an art collector by the name of Emil J. Arnold at his home in New York City. 46 weights were selected, and subsequently donated to the Wisconsin State University - Eau Claire, from Emil's 346 piece collection.

In February 1968, the weights selected by K. Campbell were accepted into the University Permanent Art Collection under the approval of President Leonard Haas.

The weights are currently held in the University Special Collections and Archives on the 5th floor of McIntyre Library. Ongoing Undergraduate Student research regarding the provenance and acquisition of the Asante metal weights began in 2024 and is funded by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. 

Browse the University's digital collection of Asante metal weights by clicking on the images to the right.