RARE & HUGE CHENKOM or GALMA - IRON HOE CURRENCY from NIGERIA W. AFRICA #4

Description

RARE & HUGE CHENKOM or GALMA -  IRON  HOE CURRENCY
from NIGERIA  W. AFRICA  #
4
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T
his is a TRIBALLY SMELTED AND FORGED IRON currency artifact over 100 years old
Generally referred to as "Afo hoe currencies", “chenkoms” or "galmas", these rare and enigmatic objects are the largest and heaviest tribally smelted and forged iron artifacts in the world. Found only in Nigeria, and primarily used by the Afo and Ngas people as traditional currency for bride price or land transactions/disputes, these huge, mysterious iron masses seemed to disappear from the Nigerian cultural milieu as suddenly as they appeared. Accurate dating of these is somewhat difficult, as relevant literature is scarce - the consensus seems to be the 18th to early 20th century, or earlier for authentic charcoal iron examples. Given the amount of iron ore, charcoal, and hard work involved in production, it would appear they were made when the labor-intensive process of iron making was at its apogee in both efficiency and proficiency in West Africa . This was before massive deforestation resulted from charcoal production (to feed the insatiable iron furnaces), and local iron smelting became unnecessary due to the availability of cheap iron and scrap steel from colonial sources.
This large and rugged example of the African blacksmith's art weighs 14 lbs. 8 oz. and stands 27" high and 20" wide
from tab to tab
. Rare form with spade point base. Great forge weld strikes on spike.
In EXCELLENT condition. Heavy patina and protective oxide covers the piece. The raw, cratered iron surface is a striking landscape of rippling topography, the result of the primitive smelting and forging process. Pics show front and back, surface and
spike
forge weld detail in different lighting conditions to more fully accentuate these features.
SHIPPING:

USA:
Will ship USPS PRIORITY MAIL anywhere in US for
.00

CANADA ONLY:
USPS PRIORITY International for
.00

REST OF WORLD:
Shipping via USPS PRIORITY International for
2.00