Pair of Iron Funerary Bracelets
Birom / Rukuba / Sura, Nigeria
Iron
Circa 18th century CE

An important, closely-related example (although cast in bronze) in the collection of the Barbier-Mueller Museum, Geneva, was described this way: "The only certainty concerning this bracelet is its age: it was part of an ensemble where another tubular bracelet still contained bones. The dating of these by C14 allows us to trace these objects back to the eleventh century. But we would like to know for who - priest, king, or queen - this ornament was intended, and in what ceremonial or ritual context it was used" (Meyer, Les Arts des Métaux en Afrique Noire, 1997). 

This pair has a heavy archaeological patina and like the above described bracelt, is also believed to be burial wealth. Unlike copper alloys, iron corrodes and disintegrates more rapidly, and it is unlikely these pieces predate the 18th century. However, the desert climate of Niger and northern Nigeria could possibly have preserved them for a longer peiord of time. 

Importantly, the Birom, Rukuba, and Sura cultures of Nigeria were known to manufacture armor by pushing iron spikes through a flat piece of iron, as seen here. This unique characteristic strongly suggests a connection of these bracelets to these central/northern Nigerian cultures (British Museum, Af1906,1017.5 and Af1906,1017.6)

4.5 and 4.25 in :: 11.5 and 11 cm (height not including bases)

InventoryID #13-1781

Price on Request