African Metalwork

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.

Showing 1–12 of 33 results

  • Antique Fulani Manilla Currency/Slave Bracelet, West Africa (3159XLR) $110

    $110.00
    H: 2.75” W: 3.125” Thick: 0.375” Circum. 8.25” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This 19th century Fulani bracelet likely originated in Mali or Niger. As nomadic people, bracelets and anklets such as this were an ideal form of currency that was wearable, easily portable, and available for occasional major purchases. This circular thin C-shaped manilla has a rounded smooth surface inside and out. It is divided visually into six sections with incised crosshatch and linear designs. The copper-colored surface has a fine patina and it is in excellent condition with signs of use consistent with its age.  It comes with a wood and metal stand.

  • Antique Fulani Manilla Currency/Slave Bracelet, West Africa (3150VKE) $185

    $185.00
    H: 2.75”  W: 2.875”  Thick: 0.5” Circum: 8.75” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique thick Fulani metal bracelet with flat ends has a smooth rounded outer surface with deeply etched and stamped traditional designs of  triangles, horizontal bands, circles, facets and groves. This beautiful bracelet with a fine patina is in excellent condition and comes with a wood and metal stand.

     

  • Antique Fulani Manilla Currency/Slave Bracelet, West Africa (3155VKM) $195

    $195.00
    H: 2.625”  W: 3”  Thick: 0.25” Circum. 8.25” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Each African region fabricated its own variety of manillas that were typically horseshoe or C-shaped. This large beautiful antique manilla has a rounded smooth surface with fine etched linear design, circles, swirls, stipples, and V-shapes. In excellent condition with a fine aged patina it comes with a wood and metal stand.

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

    $295.00
    Ht: 3.125”  W: 3.5”  Thickness: 1”| FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    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.

  • Antique Fulani Manilla Currency/Slave Trade Bracelet, West Africa (3146GKE)

    $165.00
    H: 2.75”  W: 3”  Thick: 0.5” Circum: 8” |  FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique thick, rounded and smooth surfaced Fulani manilla is etched with intricate decorative and geometric designs at the ends and at its apex. It is in very good condition with minor scratches, cracks and bruising on the inside consistent with its extensive age and use. It comes with a wood and metal stand.

    Click here for Blog Manillas: Former African Trade Currency.

  • Antique Senufo Manilla Currency/Slave Trade Bracelet, West Africa (3143WOE)

    $295.00
    H: 3.125”  W: 4”  Thick: 1.125.5” Circum: 9.5” |  FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This very elaborate and exquisite C-shaped Senufo heavy manilla  is ornately embellished and divided into sections, each decorated with deeply carved  panels and framed with pairs of raised ball-like metal pieces. This remarkable and elegant manilla has a fine patina that shows its age, long use, and wear. It comes with a wood and metal stand.

     

  • Antique Senufo Manilla Currency/Slave Trade Bracelet, West Africa (3144QAS) $185

    $185.00
    H: 2.75”  W: 3.625”  Thick: 1” Circum. 9.375” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL u.s.

    Metal bracelets known as manillas were locally made and used as currency and a medium of exchange to trade or barter, pay for significant events and to display status or social position. This antique intricate Senufo copper alloy bracelet is decorated with incised parallel ridges covering its 3-sections which have sets of raised bosses and flattened discs at each end. Very heavy bracelets like this were not worn but were were used to store wealth, make purchases, buy or trade for livestock and goods, or as a bridal dowry or for ceremonial purposes such as weddings and burials. In excellent condition with a fine patina and the usual signs of age and use, it also has a wood and metal stand.

    Click here for Blog Manillas: Former African Trade Currency.

  • Antique Tuareg King Manilla Currency/Slave Bracelet, North/West Africa, (3161YOE) $325

    $325.00
    Ht: 4″  W: 4.6525″  Thick: 1.5″ Circum: 10.5″  | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This 19th century Tuareg “king” manilla bracelet/anklet made from brass, copper and iron in the shape of horseshoe is a magnificent example of African metalwork composed of massive flat finials with 10 facets. Adorned with traditional raised finely detailed etched and hammered cross-hatched designs, diamond shapes, triangles and circles, this fine piece is excellent condition with appropriate signs of age and use and comes with a wood and metal stand.

     

     

  • Antique Tuareg Manilla Currency/Slave Bracelet, Africa (3152XKM) $285

    $285.00
    Bracelet H: 3.875”  W: 3.5”  Thick: 1.125”   | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This 18-19th century Tuareg manilla was fashioned using a sand mould in a traditional horseshoe shape with bulbous rounded faceted ends. decorated with hand hammered fine details which have faded from age and wear. Individual Tuareg tribes each use unique symbolic imagery and decorative motifs passed down for generations. It comes with a wood and metal stand.

     

  • Antique Tuareg Manilla Currency/Slave Bracelet, North and West Africa (3145DHM) $295

    $295.00
    H: 3.125″   W: 3.125″   D: 0.75″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This elegantly shaped horseshoe-shaped manilla from the Mali and Niger region is decorated with hammered and incised embellishments, designs, and decorative motifs unique to individual Tuareg tribes that have been passed on for generations. It is divided into distinct sections, each with detailed traditional etched linear designs, circular cutouts, diamonds, grooves and terminating in large rounded knot finials incised with layered triangles designs. Bracelets/anklets of this massive size were never worn as jewelry but were used as currency and to represent status. The patina shows its age, long use, and wear.  It comes with a wood and metal stand.

     

     

     

  • Antique Tuareg Manilla Currency/Slave Bracelet, North/West Africa (3156JCE) $195

    $195.00
    H: 3.5”  W: 3.625”  Thick: 0.50” Circum. 10.125”  | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This finely fashioned antique Tuareg manilla bracelet/anklet is a traditional slim circular-shaped bracelet with hoof-shaped terminals, hand incised striated decorations, and faceted rounded beads at the open ends. Manillas were important currency for nomadic populations since they were easily portable. It is in excellent condition with a fine patina and comes with a wood and metal stand.

  • Sale!

    Antique/Vintage Ethiopian Fleury Cross with Textured Surface (E338ZCE)

    Original price was: $175.00.Current price is: $160.00.
    Ht: 2.563″  W: 2.063″    | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This wonderful Coptic Cross is in the form of a fleury or floriated trefoil cross with the end of each arm splayed into three pointed lobes representing the Trinity. The body is embellished with parallel rows of small granulates which results in a vibrant textured surface. The chain is not included.

     

     

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