Ibo coinage, Igbo-Ukwu region, Nigeria - Lot 57

Lot n° 57
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Estimation :
500 - 600 EUR
Ibo coinage, Igbo-Ukwu region, Nigeria - Lot 57
Ibo coinage, Igbo-Ukwu region, Nigeria 19th - early 20th century Pewter L. 30.5 cm In addition to its aesthetic qualities, the reel shape of this coin testifies to its utilitarian function, the tradition of which has its origins in the trade that began between the Portuguese and the Igbo people at the end of the fourteenth century. The Igbo, who received large quantities of copper in exchange for goods (ivory, pepper, then slaves), developed an impressive copper smelting know-how, enabling them to transport it easily and trade beyond their territory. The technique consisted in hammering copper alloys into rods, which were then wound into coils that could be cut and adjusted to make various types of jewelry, including bracelets, as our object testifies. This bracelet coin is made up of nineteen coils forming a spring whose flat ends are flared. The symbolism of the spring as an "elastic organ capable of withstanding considerable deformation" is matched by the exceptionally flexible and malleable material of copper, whose qualities inspired the Igbo blacksmiths to create these beautiful spiral coins.
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