Antique Fulani Manilla Currency/Slave Bracelet, West Africa (3165WHM) $295

$295.00

Bracelet Ht: 3.125”  W: 3.5”  Thickness: 1” | FREE SHIPPING!

The Fulani people favored many kinds of body ornaments, among the most traditional being bracelets and anklets in a horseshoe shape with flared decorative ends.  This finely-crafted, heavy and massive antique U-shaped example was elaborately designed with intertwined twisted strands and 11 faceted ends incised with circle and diamond designs. This has no stand.

Description

The Fulani are the most numerous nomadic people on earth and one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. Mostly Muslim, they are primarily nomads and sedentary farmers. For centuries they, like many groups, created African-metalwork and African-jewelry in the form of arm and ankle bracelets as symbols of wealth and status, fashion adornments, for birth, coming of age, marriage and burial ceremonies, to trade and barter for animals and agricultural goods and as a medium of exchange as there were no banks or conventional money exchange systems. Since they are so numerous, their manilla bracelets are found throughout West Africa. During Africa’s colonization in the 1500s, the British, French and Dutch manufactured bracelets in Europe calling them manillas which became the currency of the slave trade to the Americas and were known as slave bracelets, slave trade money and bracelet money.  They were prohibited for use by foreign traders in the Manilla Currency Ordinance of 1919, and in the 1940s and 50s were confiscated and meltdown. Still worn by Caribbean slave descendants as family treasure pass to future generations. This one is in excellent condition, has a fine patina with minor pitting and scrapes consistent with its age and use. This is part of the VA African-Art and Tribal-Art collections.

Click here for Blog Manillas: Former African Trade Currency.

Additional information

Place of Origin

Africa

Period

Antique (1200-1920)

Date

19th Century

Materials and Technique

Bronze/brass/copper alloy

Dimensions (inches)

H: 3.125” W: 3.5" Thick: 1” Circum: 8.25”

Dimensions (metric)

H: 7.92 cm W: 8.94 cm Thick: 2.54 cm Circum: 20.95 cm

Weight

1 lb 5 0z

Condition

Excellent, fine patina demonstrating age and use

Reference Number

1365WHM

Shipping Box Size