AN EKONDA BRONZE KONGA CURRENCY ANKLET

AN EKONDA BRONZE KONGA CURRENCY ANKLET, late 19th / 20th century, of circular form with polished ridged bands

12cm high x 16cm wide x 14cm deep

Notes: A leg shield made by Mongo smiths, a vast tribal group of the central Congo, that used furnaces dug into the earth to heat and smelt the metal, which was then poured into a horizontal cast, moulded in fire clay made with a wooden mould. The still hot ingot was finally bent over a trunk to obtain the cylindrical shape desired. Worn by women, it testified to a husband’s wealth.