Senufo Anklet Currency – 19th Century Lost-Wax Cast Bronze

: Northern Côte d’Ivoire / Mali border region

Material: Solid cast bronze (lost-wax technique)

Dimensions: 19 × 8 × 7 cm

Period: 19th Century

A striking example of Senufo anklet currency, this sculptural bronze form was both an adornment and a store of wealth among the Senufo people of West Africa. Cast by hand using the ancient lost-wax (cire perdue) process, each piece is unique—its asymmetry and subtle tooling marks evidence of pre-industrial craftsmanship.

Such objects functioned as dowry and trade currency, exchanged during significant rites of passage including marriages and funerals. Their weight and artistry reflected the owner’s social standing. Today, these bronzes are admired as powerful forms of tribal sculpture and proto-money, bridging aesthetics and anthropology.

Condition: Excellent original patina; minor wear consistent with age.

Provenance: Acquired Côte d’Ivoire, 1996.

Category: African Tribal Currency / Ethnographic Metalwork