West African Cast Brass Currency Bracelet, Attributed Northern Ghana / Burkina Faso, Ring Form

A substantial cast brass bracelet of ring form, belonging to a wider West African tradition of metal adornment objects that also functioned as stores of value. Such bracelets circulated across the savannah regions of present-day northern Ghana and Burkina Faso, where cast brass ornaments formed part of regional exchange systems and personal wealth display.

The bracelet is produced using the lost-wax casting technique, followed by hand-incised geometric decoration. Its compact mass and continuous form reflect durability and long-term use. Surface wear, patina, and minor casting irregularities are consistent with age and handling. Comparable examples are generally dated to the 19th to early 20th century and are collected within the broader field of West African metalwork.

Circa: 19th – early 20th century

Provenance: Egon Guenther Collection; by family descent to the Thomas Guenther Collection

Measurements:
Diameter: 8.9 cm
Inner diameter: 6.05 cm
Width: 2.57 cm
Weight: 545 g