African Gold Weight with Feline & Turtle

A gold weight in the shape of a cat, standing over a turtle. Somewhere, a proverb is in progress.

In West Africa’s gold-trading regions, weights like this one were used with balance scales to measure gold dust, and many were modeled as animals that recalled familiar sayings. Cast in copper alloy in the 20th century. The cat-like creature stands squarely on four legs, its long tail curling high over its back, its broad head turned outward with a wide grin. A turtle with a hatched shell lies beneath its forepaws. Smooth, golden-brown patina. Three inches tall, on a black base.

Weigh your words. The cat clearly has.