AFRICAN CURRENCY ANKLET. AKAN TRIBE, GOLD COAST. Scarce19th Century. COPPER 435 g.
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Product information
| DESCRIPTION | A large African currency copper anklet dating from the 19th Century Used by the Akan tribe from the Gold Coast (now Ghana) for transactions such as buying livestock or for matrimonial transactions as well as for a display of wealth. It weighs 435 g and has a diameter of 12,5 cm at the widest point and the thickness of the anklet is about 6 cm. The beautiful antique anklet on auction here is shown in the image above and further images to illustrate it more closely appear below. Have a good look at them and, if there is anything you are unsure about, please ask a question. |
| CONDITION | There is beautiful patination and a small crack from wear on this anklet. This is not regarded as damage, but rather adds to the collectability and authenticity of this scarce and unusual item. |
A beautiful, scarce, authentic and very collectable item. These anklets were produced by African metal smiths through sand mold casting and were used by the more elite to display their wealth. They were also used to purchase expensive items (for cheaper items the trade was normally done with beads, small livestock, shells etc). Copper was a very expensive commodity and an anklet such as the one on auction here had a lot of purchasing power. The general currency for purchasing items of substantial value in West Africa until the beginning of the 20th century was the manilla (a copper 'C' shaped bracelet with 'elephant foot' ends) which was produced in Europe and initially intended for the slave trade. The anklet on auction here was, however, produced in Africa from locally mined copper or from manillas which were melted down and it had more status value and also cultural value than the manilla. The anklets were worn by both men and women, often for decades, and were only taken off if they were needed for trading purposes. If worn by a woman, she did not own it (since she was also just a possession of her father or husband). This is a supremely collectable item (really a museum piece) - so if you are interested in this item and are not an expert on African currency it would be advisable to research it on the Internet and look at websites such as those of the Hamill Gallery of Tribal Art and the Africa and Beyond Art Gallery. |
THE SHIPPING COST WILL BE R58 TO ANY DESTINATION IN SOUTH AFRICA BY ORDINARY PARCEL POST. THE ITEM CAN ALSO BE SENT DOOR- TO-DOOR BY COURIER TO MOST URBAN AREAS IN SOUTH AFRICA AT A VERY REASONABLE COST. OVERSEAS SHIPPING IS THE SA POST OFFICE RATE PLUS 20% FOR PARCELING AND HANDLING.
I HAVE LISTED SEVERAL INTERESTING ITEMS, INCLUDING MORE ITEMS OF AFRICAN CULTURAL INTEREST, ON BID OR BUY. SINCE ITEMS ARE COMBINED FOR SHIPPING IT COSTS MUCH LESS PER ITEM TO SHIP MORE THAN ONE. JUST CLICK ON THE BID OR BUY ICON BELOW FOR QUICK ACCESS TO THE OTHER ITEMS I HAVE ON OFFER.
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