West African Coil Bracelet c.1990
A West African Coil Bracelet made from a copper alloy, likely originating from the Igbo peoples of South-east Nigeria.
8cm x 6cm
Coils such as this we’re called ‘Manillas’ and were as a commodity money for trade across West Africa from the 15th up to even the early 20th century.
The Portugese started trading with the Igbo people of Southern Nigeria in the late 1400s for animal products and pepper, but in later trading also started trading for humans. In their barter, the Portuguese traded goods with copper.
One of the uses the Igbo had for the copper they received in their trades was to create coils from the copper rods to use as a means of trade between themselves. The Igbo coil bracelets varied in length by the number of coils, thus varying the value of the Igbo coil
A West African Coil Bracelet made from a copper alloy, likely originating from the Igbo peoples of South-east Nigeria.
8cm x 6cm
Coils such as this we’re called ‘Manillas’ and were as a commodity money for trade across West Africa from the 15th up to even the early 20th century.
The Portugese started trading with the Igbo people of Southern Nigeria in the late 1400s for animal products and pepper, but in later trading also started trading for humans. In their barter, the Portuguese traded goods with copper.
One of the uses the Igbo had for the copper they received in their trades was to create coils from the copper rods to use as a means of trade between themselves. The Igbo coil bracelets varied in length by the number of coils, thus varying the value of the Igbo coil
A West African Coil Bracelet made from a copper alloy, likely originating from the Igbo peoples of South-east Nigeria.
8cm x 6cm
Coils such as this we’re called ‘Manillas’ and were as a commodity money for trade across West Africa from the 15th up to even the early 20th century.
The Portugese started trading with the Igbo people of Southern Nigeria in the late 1400s for animal products and pepper, but in later trading also started trading for humans. In their barter, the Portuguese traded goods with copper.
One of the uses the Igbo had for the copper they received in their trades was to create coils from the copper rods to use as a means of trade between themselves. The Igbo coil bracelets varied in length by the number of coils, thus varying the value of the Igbo coil