Yoruba Lost-Wax Cast Brass Ceremonial Anklets (Pair), Nigeria, Figural Prestige Leg Ornaments, 19th–20th Century

A matched pair of cast brass prestige anklets attributed to the Yoruba cultural region of southwestern Nigeria, dating to the late nineteenth to early twentieth century. Anklets of this form were worn above the ankle or on the lower calf and functioned as markers of rank, lineage, and ceremonial authority within courtly and ritual contexts. The sculptural surfaces display stylised faces and reptilian imagery, motifs that appear across Yoruba metalwork and are associated with protection, continuity of lineage, and symbolic power.

The ornaments were produced using the traditional lost-wax casting technique, a process in which each piece is individually modelled in wax before casting in metal, resulting in subtle variations between the two anklets. The hollow construction reduces weight while maintaining substantial visual presence. Surface wear, minor casting vents, and hand-finished details are consistent with age and traditional manufacture. Comparable examples are documented in major museum collections and the international ethnographic art market.

Circa: Late 19th to early 20th century

PROVENANCE: Egon Guenther Collection; by family descent to
Thomas Guenther Collection.

MEASUREMENTS
Length: 29.5 cm
Width: 20.5 cm
Thickness: 3.1 cm
Combined weight: approx. 1.060 kg