EG 78 19th Century Edo (Benin Kingdom) Cast Bronze Manilla Bracelet – Nigeria

This heavy cast bronze manilla bracelet was produced by the Edo peoples of southern Nigeria, within the cultural sphere of the historic Benin Kingdom, one of Africa’s most accomplished centres of bronze casting. Objects of this type were not simple jewellery but functioned as wealth items and ceremonial currency, used in important social and ritual transactions.

The bracelet was cast using the lost-wax (cire perdue) technique, a method perfected by Edo metalworkers and closely associated with court-controlled guilds. Its substantial crescent form, thickened terminals, and applied sculptural decoration indicate an object intended to convey status, authority, and economic power, rather than everyday adornment.

Manilla bracelets such as this were used in bridewealth payments, ceremonial exchange, and the display of accumulated wealth, and were owned by individuals of standing within the community. The surface wear and deep patination visible today are consistent with age, handling, and long-term use.

Dimensions
Outside Diameter:73 mm
Inside Diameter 49 mm
Thickness 12 mm
Weight 160 grams