Antique Iron Currency Figure, Kirdi Cameroon/Nigeria, Early Estate Collection

Description

Wonderful, older iron currency figure on stand, made by Kirdi blacksmiths from northern Cameroon or southern Nigeria. Piece came from an estate of a man who recenly died at age 90 so it could date from the 1800’s to the early 1900’s if the previous owner was collecting in the 1950’s-1970’s era.
Nice spiral technique on the top, seen with the Kirdi iron work and showing the blacksmith artistry and skill. Currency  before  colonialization in Africa was a symbol of weath and power, and was used to negotiate major life transactions, such a wedding dowries, or buying cattle.
19” H; Beautiful, varied reddish brown and whiteish patina on the  iron, showing age. This piece was meant to be a figure since it was bought with another similar one that had breasts cut out at the top.
_gsrx_vers_851 (GS 7.0.17b2 (851))