African Art Collection Auction Ending 9/28

#78 – QUEEN AND PRINCE MANILLAS. Probably Nigeria. Manillas are a diverse group of copper, iron and brass objects of European origin that were used as currency particularly in West and Central Africa. The name, manilla, is attributed to the word manilho or manillio said to have referred to bracelet in 15th or 16th century Portuguese. The wearing of ring and manilla-form bracelets by Africans was observed by the earliest Europeans (mainly Portuguese) to arrive in West Africa in the 15th century. How this observation led to the ultimate forms of imported manillas is not well documented, but European manillas were already depicted in 15th century brass plaques from the royal palace in Benin. The most common forms are open U, elongated U and C forms, sometimes with flared ends. Because iron, copper, and brass were more scarce than gold in most of West African in the 15th and 16th centuries, European traders were quick to import these metals in the form of manillas to exchange for gold, ivory, other trade goods, and slaves. Manillas were manufactured in many European countries, varying in size, shape, composition of metal and thickness. The king manilla generally has a span greater than 12 inches, the queen spans 8-12inches, and the prince 6-8 inches. On custom bases. Queen 10in. 81oz. Prince 7.5in. 29.10z.

QUEEN AND PRINCE MANILLAS. Probably Nigeria. Manillas are a diverse group of copper, iron and brass objects of European origin that were used as currency particularly in West and Central Africa. The name, manilla, is attributed to the word manilho or manillio said to have referred to bracelet in 15th or 16th century Portuguese. The wearing of ring and manilla-form bracelets by Africans was observed by the earliest Europeans (mainly Portuguese) to arrive in West Africa in the 15th century. How this observation led to the ultimate forms of imported manillas is not well documented, but European manillas were already depicted in 15th century brass plaques from the royal palace in Benin. The most common forms are open U, elongated U and C forms, sometimes with flared ends. Because iron, copper, and brass were more scarce than gold in most of West African in the 15th and 16th centuries, European traders were quick to import these metals in the form of manillas to exchange for gold, ivory, other trade goods, and slaves. Manillas were manufactured in many European countries, varying in size, shape, composition of metal and thickness. The king manilla generally has a span greater than 12 inches, the queen spans 8-12inches, and the prince 6-8 inches. On custom bases. Queen 10in. 81oz. Prince 7.5in. 29.10z.

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