Ethnic Design Collection Reto Zehnder

Before the advent of European trade in the 16th century, hand-beaten copper coils did double duty as currency and jewelry in what is today southeastern Nigeria. The Portuguese and, later, the British introduced bronze and brass initially in the form of bars, ingots, and wire, but later in cast bracelets and ready-to-use forms as well. Europeans also introduced manufactured steel in order to barter for ivory and other valuables from the interior. This trade effectively ended the ancient practice of hand forging copper. (From amayas.net)