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Category
Origin
Material
Quality
Throwing Knife Chad07.04.692
- Iron
- High aesthetic value
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
- Excellent overall condition
This throwing knife comes from the southeastern Sara, collected during my stay in Sahr in the 1980 ties. Southern Chad is believed by many to be the birthplace of the African throwing knife. Known as ngalio, these throwing knives were often carried in bunches of three or more in custom leather quivers. Unlike other African weapon-types where style trumps function, this is a purely functional form, used for fighting and hunting. They served as missiles with a range of up to 30 meters.
Lobi snake curreny07.03.691
- Iron
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
- High aesthetic value
Lobi Iron Currency in Snake form from Burkina Faso. Made by the village Blacksmith. This snake was used as a trade object by the Tribe. Coiled iron snakes were also placed atop hearths in homes, supposedly to ward off evil spirits and to protect them from a snake's bit. An important health amulet.
Lobi snake money07.01.690
- Iron
- High aesthetic value
- Museum quality (worthy to be added to a museum’s permanent collection)
- Excellent overall condition
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
Lobi Iron Currency in Snake form from Burkina Faso. Made by the village Blacksmith,This snake was used as a trade object by the Tribe.
Coiled iron snakes were also placed atop hearths in colonial homes, supposedly to ward off evil spirits and to protect them from a snake's bit. An inportant health amulet
Kul currency from Southern Chad07.04.689
- Iron
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
- High aesthetic value
Widely used in Southern Chad. these items were collected during my stay in the Moyen Chari Region in the 80 ties. The Kul shape can be date back to the neolithic rock paintings in the Sahara and to the more contemporary shape of the throwing knife used by the ethnic groups in Southern Chad both for hunting and fighting. They served to organize traditional ceremonies, pay local fines and up to 100 - 250 Kuls were needed for a marriage, but in the daily live they served to pay agricultural goods and services, pay fines. It is made out of thin and light wrought iron. The literature claims that the Kul was forged by the Ngama blacksmith and then distributed to various ethnic groups in Southern Chad.
Kul money from Southern Chad07.04.688
- Iron
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
- High aesthetic value
Widely used in Southern Chad. these items were collected during my stay in the Moyen Chari Region in the 80 ties. The Kul shape can be date back to the neolithic rock paintings in the Sahara and to the more contemporary shape of the throwing knife used by the ethnic groups in Southern Chad both for hunting and fighting. They served to organize traditional ceremonies, pay local fines and up to 100 - 250 Kuls were needed for a marriage, but in the daily live they served to pay agricultural goods and services, pay fines. It is made out of thin and light wrought iron. The literature claims that the Kul was forged by the Ngama blacksmith and then distributed to various ethnic groups in Southern Chad.
Kul money from Southern Chad07.04.687
- Iron
- High aesthetic value
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
- Fair condition (some missing, broken or repaired parts, see pictures)
Widely used in Southern Chad. these items were collected during my stay in the Moyen Chari Region in the 80 ties. The Kul shape can be date back to the neolithic rock paintings in the Sahara and to the more contemporary shape of the throwing knife used by the ethnic groups in Southern Chad both for hunting and fighting. They served to organize traditional ceremonies, pay local fines and up to 100 - 250 Kuls were needed for a marriage, but in the daily live they served to pay agricultural goods and services, pay fines. It is made out of thin and light wrought iron. The literature claims that the Kul was forged by the Ngama blacksmith and then distributed to various ethnic groups in Southern Chad. The "foot" is missing.
Throwing knife - Chad07.04.639
- Iron
Iron currency - Chad/Cameroon07.04.638
- Iron
- High aesthetic value
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
- Excellent overall condition
This item has been collected in 1982-84 in Southern Chad. According to Hamillton galery, these iron or brass forms were used by several peoples of No. Nigeria and Cameroon, including the Chamba, Mumuye, Mambila, Idoma and Montol. These forms were recognized and used as currency.
Iron currency - Chad/Cameroon07.04.617
- Iron
- High aesthetic value
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
- Excellent overall condition
This item has been collected in 1982-84 in Southern Chad. According to Hamillton galery, these iron or brass forms were used by several peoples of No. Nigeria and Cameroon, including the Chamba, Mumuye, Mambila, Idoma and Montol. These forms were recognized and used as currency.
Youruba monetary belt07.02.600
- Brass / bronze
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
- Excellent overall condition
These brass rings were tied together with a thick rope and worn as a belt. This form was recognized and used as currency and could be broken up for smaller transactions. The present belthas over 150 brass rings. They can be hung or arranged in infinite compositions for presentation.
Kul currency from Southern Chad07.04.599
- Iron
- High aesthetic value
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
Widely used in Southern Chad. these items were collected during my stay in the Moyen Chari Region in the 80 ties. The Kul shape can be date back to the neolithic rock paintings in the Sahara and to the more contemporary shape of the throwing knife used by the ethnic groups in Southern Chad both for hunting and fighting. They served to organize traditional ceremonies, pay local fines and up to 100 - 250 Kuls were needed for a marriage, but in the daily live they served to pay agricultural goods and services, pay fines. It is made out of thin and light wrought iron. The literature claims that the Kul was forged by the Ngama blacksmith and then distributed to various ethnic groups in Southern Chad.
Ceremonial iron axe - Mandara mountains07.03.598
- Iron
- High aesthetic value
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
Similar model spread among various ethnic groups around the mandara mountains in Northern Cameroon. The shape of the axe may represent a stylized head of a roster, a sacred animal among the Fali tribe.
Heavy Brass Anklet Senufo used as money01.01.596
- Brass / bronze
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
- Excellent overall condition
This anklet belongs to people of higher rank and were associated with fertility. The anklet has a Senufo design. Made out of Brass ( an alloy of copper and zinc) by the lost wax casting technique.
Iron currency Chamba ?07.02.595
- Iron
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
- High aesthetic value
A sixty centimeter long rope to which 54 elongated iron pieces that " look like wound up tobacco leaves" (Bellarini p. 172).
The etnic groups of Northenr Cameroon, where this object has been collected, have similar items.
Manilla Nigeria07.02.418
- Copper & copper aloy
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
Manillas are copper or bronze horseshoe shaped armlets, which served as a general purpose currency in West Africa (Guinea Coast, Gold Coast, Nigeria) from the 15th century to the mid-20th century. Manillas were used for ordinary market purchases, bride price, and as burial money. Cowry shells, valued at a small fraction of a Manilla, were used for smaller purchases.
Manilla Nigeria07.02.417
- Copper & copper aloy
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
Manillas are copper or bronze horseshoe shaped armlets, which served as a general purpose currency in West Africa (Guinea Coast, Gold Coast, Nigeria) from the 15th century to the mid-20th century. Manillas were used for ordinary market purchases, bride price, and as burial money. Cowry shells, valued at a small fraction of a Manilla, were used for smaller purchases.
Set of 3 Nigerian Manillas07.02.416
- Copper & copper aloy
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
Manillas are copper or bronze horseshoe shaped armlets, which served as a general purpose currency in West Africa (Guinea Coast, Gold Coast, Nigeria) from the 15th century to the mid-20th century. Manillas were used for ordinary market purchases, bride price, and as burial money. Cowry shells, valued at a small fraction of a Manilla, were used for smaller purchases.
Set of 3 Nigerian manillas07.02.415
- Copper & copper aloy
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
Manillas are copper or bronze horseshoe shaped armlets, which served as a general purpose currency in West Africa (Guinea Coast, Gold Coast, Nigeria) from the 15th century to the mid-20th century. Manillas were used for ordinary market purchases, bride price, and as burial money. Cowry shells, valued at a small fraction of a Manilla, were used for smaller purchases.
Set of 6 Manillas Nigeria- Okpoho07.02.414
- Copper & copper aloy
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
Manillas are copper or bronze horseshoe shaped armlets, which served as a general purpose currency in West Africa (Guinea Coast, Gold Coast, Nigeria) from the 15th century to the mid-20th century. Manillas were used for ordinary market purchases, bride price, and as burial money. Cowry shells, valued at a small fraction of a Manilla, were used for smaller purchases.
Set of 5 Kissi pennies07.01.413
- Iron
- High aesthetic value
.For 3 the head is missing and for the 2 others the foot. The shape of the Kissi money is rather odd. Its characteristic form is a twisted rod of iron with flattened ends: a flat, hoe-like spatula at one end (Nileng) and a sharpened ‘T’ at the other (Kodo) the bundle of 20 pieces was called Bournou. Kissi pennies were in use until mid 20th century.
Arrangements with 11 Kissi pennies07.01.412
- Metal
- Iron
- High aesthetic value
Eleven single Kissi pennies arranged on a wooden base
Small Matakam Mafa siral curreny07.03.411
- Iron
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
Mafa Matakam spiral currency07.03.410
- Iron
- High aesthetic value
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
A two spiral cueency from Norther Cameroon. The front is finely ciselled. Rosty otherwise in good condition.
Sara "Sakania" small currencies07.04.409
- Iron
- High aesthetic value
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
- Good overall conditions (small imperfections or signs of use)
- Original condition
These small and thin currencies was widely used throughout Southern Chad and spread even into Niger. Quiggin suggest that the form is influenced by a hoe used in neighboring Darfur and Kodofan. " it was custom to give a certain amount of hoe currency to the fiancée and her father during the engagement ceremonies" (Vitoor p.79). Our collection was acquired during may stay in Chad from 1982 to 1986. They may have been forged by the Kaba, a sub group of the sara tribe. Several ethnic groups use different names: Kokio, Koké, Nari-dul, Lar-ndul, Senne.
Vere / Dadiya iron currency07.02.408
- Iron
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
Width: 95 mm Weight: 140 gr
The form inspired by identical knifes with sharpened blades, the present example has a purely monetary function. The Vere and the Dadiya are two small tribes living along the benue river.
Kwele "anchor" currency - Kwele07.05.407
- Iron
- High aesthetic value
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
Width: 410 mm Weight: 600 gr (without stand)
Highly decorative form of an anchor shaped currency, with two wings terminated at their end with a piece perpendicular to the currency's plan. The piece was stamped out of an iron sheet. The were introduced as money by the N'Goko Sangha Company early 20th Century to buy rubber and ivory.
Fine hoe currency Cameroon or Congo07.03.406
- Iron
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
Fine hoe currency with nice black patina and a highly decorative shape. A similar object in Bellarini's "The Perfect Form" is ether attributed to the Backwele in Congo or the Makai of Western Cameroon.
Very Large Hoe Currency Afo07.02.405
- Iron
- High aesthetic value
- Museum quality (worthy to be added to a museum’s permanent collection)
Generally referred to as "Afo hoe currencies" or "galmas", these rare and enigmatic objects are the largest and heaviest tribally smelted and forged iron artifacts in the world. Found only in Nigeria, and primarily used by the Afo and Ngas people as traditional currency for bride price or land transactions/disputes, these huge, mysterious masses of high quality wrought charcoal iron seemed to disappear from the Nigerian cultural milieu as suddenly as they appeared. Accurate dating of these is somewhat difficult, as relevant literature is scarce - the consensus seems to be 18th to 19th century, or earlier
Idoma currency simple07.02.404
- Brass / bronze
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
- High aesthetic value
- Delivered with it's own stand
The Idoma live in the Benue River aerea of Nigeria. This doubble Idoma currency is a rare piece with a high aestetic value. The surface has brush made lines. This simple yet striking design expresses perfectly the "perfect form" that is African tribal currency, a sculptural object of beauty that speaks of places.
Chamba iron currency07.03.401
- Iron
- Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
- High aesthetic value
- Delivered with it's own stand
Width: 180 mm Weight: 245 gr
Very special piece, an flattened iron bar with hook shaped appendices attached to it-