As Africa is rich in natural metals, it has a long and rich tradition of metalwork and metal items were historically a source of wealth, status, currency, and the basis for trade, As summarized on the University of Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum website, “There is enormous variety in African metalworking, in terms of the metals used, the techniques employed, and the objects produced. Historically, the metals used most in Sub-Saharan Africa were iron, copper, bronze (alloy of copper and tin), brass (alloy of copper and zinc), and gold. Metal has been used to produce objects for almost all areas of life, including trade, warfare, agriculture, worship, ritual, and body ornamentation. In West Africa from the fourteenth century, copper bracelets were used as currency. After the arrival of Portuguese and other European traders, great numbers of these manillas (the Portuguese word for bracelet) were produced in Europe to trade in west Africa (as part of the slave trade) …. a copper manilla made in Birmingham for trade to Africa…. was produced to be exchanged with Igbo people in Nigeria for palm oil and ivory…The copper from these manillas brought to Africa from Europe was often melted down and remade into other metal objects.” In Ethiopia coin silver was melted to make Ethiopian crosses. African metalware objects on the VA site include a Congo iron gong, manillas, and Ethiopian Crosses made from coin-silver.
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Tuareg horseshoe-shaped manilla with bold hammered and incised decorative motifs unique to individual Tuareg tribes Divided in sections, with etched designs, circular cutouts, ending knot finials. .
Elegant Ethiopian Latin Cross with a raised rounded cross in center. Soft edges and matted surface from wear impart feeling of grace and warmth. Made using lost-wax, it is one-of-a-kind. Chain not included.
Simple Latin cross surmounted by a raised rounded cross in the center. Although it is heavy with a distinct and massive feel, its soft edges and matted surface impart a feeling of grace and warmth. Unadorned Latin crosses are relatively rare.
Manillas were commonly used by the Yoruba in the Coastal regions of Nigeria and along the Niger River. This thin simple round C-shaped manilla is decorated with incised linear designs on the outer round surface: it is centered on the top with parallel zig zag lines between a set of four parallel indentations which frame it. Each end also has zig zag indented striations. Simple, yet elegant, the bracelet is in very good condition, with normal wear, and pitting that verify its age and use. It comes with a wood metal stand.
This traditional African hammered iron gong is elegantly shaped like a flaring bell. Heat riveted, a forging process joining two metal pieces together, it was made by Congolese tribal people. Made with 5 parallel lines of 5 decorative round bulges on both sides, it was often held using a raffia handle and beaten using sticks covered with rubber at its end. Originally a ritual instrument, they were also beaten to call members of special restricted societies to meetings and were a symbol of wealth, prestige, and influence.
Cross pendant with a circle with pierced design on top and circle image below surrounding a Latin cross. The 4 birds transform the Cross into the Tree of Life and also symbolize the Holy ghost. A group of four doves represents peace.
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