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History.... Long ago, the people of the Akan kingdoms of West Africa (e.g., Baule, Guro, Ashanti) devised a system of using cast brass "gold weights" or "abramo" to measure gold amounts in economic transactions, levies, and fines. The principle method used for gold and bronze casting is the lost-wax technique. This is based on a wax model of the final product. The wax is encased in clay, when the clay has set the model is heated, the wax melts and runs out and molten metal is poured into the clay mould. When cooled the clay mould is broken to reveal the cast sculpture.
Although intended to represent specific weights, they are truly works of art. The variety of motifs in Ashanti weights is infinite; geometric shapes, fish, reptiles, more or less stylized birds, insects, arms, musical instruments, stools--and also of individual persons and scenes from daily life. From the fifteenth century to nineteenth century, the Akan people dominated gold mining and gold trade in the region. They are known for their gold weights, which were made using the "lost wax" method of casting.
Here the gentle heat and warm from ground ancho chile and cinnamon provide a subtle and interesting addition to complex dark chocolate. Cast in a dark chocolate shell adorned with a touch of edible gold leaf.
Akan Gold Weights
