Large Hammered Copper Anklet, Congo

A large hand-hammered copper anklet from Central Africa, made in the nineteenth century and used as tribal currency, dowry, and ceremonial adornment. Anklets of this kind, sometimes called manillas or ankle cuffs, carried real weight in pre-colonial trade networks as a store of wealth and a marker of standing.

Blacksmiths worked raw copper obtained along regional trade routes into large open-ended cuffs. They circulated among the Mbole, Ngombe, Lokele, and Mongo peoples in major transactions: bride price negotiations, land purchases, high-status gift exchange. Their size and weight meant they were not everyday wear but emblems of prosperity.

This example retains a rich natural patina and visible hammering marks across the surface. Outer diameter is approximately 9.5 inches (24 cm), width approximately 6 inches (15 cm), weight approximately 5 lb 4 oz (2.4 kg). Acquired from a private collection specializing in African tribal art.