Lot 1074

Description

Primitive money, Africa, Nigeria, Chamba gong currency, bell money as a cast iron bell with handle, usually kept as a set of 3 or 4 on a ring, external diameter 9.5 cm., overall height 14 cm, a large suspended ringer, length 14 cm, weight 750 g; (cf.Opitz p.81 for similar use in Congo). Very fine and very scarce.

This iron bell form functioned as a gong, but would also have been used as currency. They can be hung on a wall or stand on their own, each time taking a new configuration. This collection of many bells and 'clangers' are often identified as Yoruba. This style or type of metal grouping is also reported as being from the Chamba people of the Benue River Valley. The Chamba seem to have a great variety of iron currency forms and may be the case that when forged iron currency is not specifically identified it is associated to the Chamba who live in a remote and very traditional region of Nigeria. The bell shaped forms and narrow 'clangers' are attached to a ring, keeping the individual pieces as part of a group that would have an enhanced value due to the material and their forms. Equally, each element could be exchanged separately for goods. Forged iron currency has a long history throughout west Africa dating back to the first millennium from evidence of iron working in northern Nigeria. The convertibility of forged iron into other objects makes it an ideal form of currency. Equally, in the shape of bells and clangers it could equally serve as a musical and ritual object.