I got this from the Netherlands and I have not seen one like it. It is 18cm across and about 6.5cm high and weighs 600g. As I have it in hand I thought I'd post some scans. It is referred to as 'bells' I think and it's for an ankle.
Very interesting. Who made them? Were they allowed to be traded? Black-market? Why are they called bells. I am assuming these are not the same bells their masters forced them to wear. Do you have any more information on them? Thanks
Its a more interesting piece. I have some manilla bracelets, but most of them were much more plain. I dabble in odd and curious money. I have a katanga cross coming from Frank Robinson as we speak.
http://www.coincoin.com/seXA.htm This link gives more info........though nothing that looks like my one......they were used as currency....until the British imposed their (our) British West African coinage on the population. I even think they were prohibited but an allowance was made for a few to be owned for ceremonial reasons. Bells......I guess because you can hear it when you walk.....parts are hollow and tiny bits inside make a noise.....saw interview with elderly West African who discussed their use........you need the volume right up and listen hard....here's the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spbu7H-4Lsg
I am always extremely hesitant when offered an "unpublished" type of proto-currency. What proof do you have that it isn't merely a bracelet or other ornament?
Very true. If a piece is not in Quiggins or similar reference, I usually try to not buy them. There is always a huge risk of the item simply being a metal item, and not really any type of money. This is amply demonstrated with early Chinese items. 95% percent of what is sold as "early money" is simply old copper things in my view.
No proof at all....the auction house sold a number of manillas together all from the same collector who had passed away. Here is another more common one that I bought at the same time. Weighs about 400g. I took a chance as they weren't costly.
Interesting items to be sure. Do you have a copy of Quiggins or the other main reference, (sorry I forgot the name)? Maybe search online if you don't to see if another dealer has similar with an attribution. I can verify a Quiggins reference, or Opitz.
No.....I have no reference books on these......bought them as a curio or as a quick flip as found in a pretty arcane auction house......few bidders.
If you had an attribution, it could add significantly to the value sir. I would think it might be worth at least some time Googling. Like I said, I can verify an attribution to at least 2 of the 3 books usually used if you wished.
OK.....well a few might say 'I told you so!' I had the large bracelet with serpant heads checked out at the University of Calgary and it is not a manilla and comes from Indonesia or Java. A quality well cast object but not from Africa and therefore never used as currency. Now we move on the where I got it. Collectplaza auctions from the netherlands buyer beware as a Chinese coin I won turned out to be fake but they were good enough to let me back out once I told them it was fake. Both objects I bought are nice even as curios and they were not expensive perhaps 25 or 30 euros. Collectplaza packed the items well and very fast delivery.
Correct I can't find anything like it but the academic expert said the very large item at the top of the post was Java or Indonesia but the second was from Africa, probably northern Ivory Coast or southern Burkina Faso from the Senufo or Gan people.....they use the bead design for the eyes of the snake. I would like to get them both checked out properly but not sure who in the UK knows about these things.
Not sure I 'd call them fakes they don't appear to be made to represent something else......one Indonesian and the other African so not knocked up in Beijing last week.
