Prestige Anklet

Dan, We, Guere or Wobe people

Liberia or Ivory Coast

19th to early 20th century

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An object of prestige, this particular type of anklet was worn by women of high rank only.

Not only worn during ceremonies, this particular type of anklet was the privilege of women of high rank within Dan, We, Guere or Wobe communities. The sound produced by the bells was announcing their presence in the village vicinity.

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This beautiful example has five bells, but early litterature (See last illustration from "Tribes of the Liberian Hinterland", George Schwab, 1947) shows that they could have up to ten!

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This piece is presumably (it's hard to date metal) from the late 19th century to early 20th century, comes from a parisian collection and sits on a custom stand.

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H / W: 13 / 20 cm (5 1/4 by 7 3/4 inches)

Price: 1200 Euros enquiry

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