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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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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The top of this early 20th century Ethiopian Cross is circular with pierced and etched circles enclosing a stylized cross. The circle reflects the Egyptian ankh but was reinterpreted by Copts to symbolize Christ’s halo, divinity and resurrection. The three arms are decorated with an etched crisscross matrix on the front and end in stylized rectangles. A stylized Cross-Pattée with flaring arms is enclosed in the center. The necklace chain necklace is not included.
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.
This large and heavy vintage Axum cross is centered with a never-ending knot created by pierced geometric forms enhanced by etched lines. The flared arms have modified rectangle that may represent the Ark of the Covenant. The knotted endless lines thwart malevolent beings from entering or reaching the wearer and conquer demons by trapping them. Using the lost wax technique, it is a one-of-a-kind pendant. The chain necklace is not included.
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