{"product_id":"antique-west-african-prestige-currency-bracelet-attributed-akan-baoule-culture-ghana-cote-d-ivoire-cast-bronze-alloy","title":"Antique West African Prestige Currency Bracelet Attributed Akan–Baoulé Culture, Ghana \/ Côte d’Ivoire, Cast Bronze Alloy","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA substantial West African cast prestige currency bracelet or bracelet-form currency object attributed to the Akan–Baoulé cultural sphere of present-day Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Objects of this type belong to the wider tradition of West African manillas and open cast currency forms historically used as stores of wealth, ceremonial valuables, and exchange currency within regional trade systems. Due to its exceptional mass, this example was likely intended primarily as a prestige or wealth object rather than for ordinary daily wear.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe object was produced using the traditional lost-wax casting process and subsequently hand finished. The deeply ribbed exterior surface, dense solid casting, uneven interior, and developed surface patina are consistent with traditional manufacture and age. Comparable forms are documented in museum collections including the British Museum, Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Pitt Rivers Museum, and Ashmolean Museum, where related examples are catalogued as bracelet-form currencies, prestige cuffs, and manillas.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCirca:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLate 19th to early 20th century\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEgon Guenther Collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy family descent to the Thomas Guenther Collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMeasurements:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOuter length 14.66 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight 11.22 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWidth 11.28 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4.255 kg\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Esteemed Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53921084146005,"sku":"EG 150","price":650.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1008\/2353\/1861\/files\/ribbed-african-earthenware-ceramic-vessel-section.png?v=1778751740","url":"https:\/\/esteemedantiques.com\/products\/antique-west-african-prestige-currency-bracelet-attributed-akan-baoule-culture-ghana-cote-d-ivoire-cast-bronze-alloy","provider":"Esteemed Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}