Thursday 16 April 2020

Object Assessment- J.0013- 19th century silver bracelet

This object, owned by the University College London Anthropology Department, is a horseshoe shape silver bracelet that comes from Zaria, which is one of the original Hausa city-states in Nigeria. The bracelet was first collected by the anthropologist M.G. Smith during his field work in Africa as part of his time as departmental head at University College London’s Anthropology department. According to the UCL Anthropology database, the bracelet is from the 19th century, but it is not clear exactly when it was made. It is composed of smelted silver Maria Theresa thalers that have been moulded into the shape of the horseshoe. Maria Theresa thalers are composed mainly of pure silver and small amounts of iron or cooper alloys. The bracelet was created using a mould, potentially through a process called lost-wax casting method. It incorporates intricate hammered designs on both ends of the object. The bracelet appears to be in the form of a manilla, which is a metal that is shaped as jewellery for the connivence of trading. These come in all shapes, sizes, and metals. Historically, manillas were used in the slave trade all throughout Africa with concentrated circulation and manufacture along West Africa’s “The Slave Coast” during the 15th-19th centuries. Manillas were also used as body ornamentation by Africans. It is unclear if this particular manilla was used as currency or body ornamentation. 

Manillas are notoriously under researched and are essential to understanding the history and impact of slavery. For this reason, these objects are incredibly significant to a diverse group of people, places, and histories. These bracelets need to be understood in the context of the social and physical environments that they were used in.

The bracelet is in good condition and is not actively degrading. The entire body of the manilla is slightly tarnished. Small specks of green can be seen under magnification in the hammered designs on the bracelet, which can potentially be copper corrosion. In the shrinkage cavity on the inside of the bracelet, there is red discolouration, potentially from iron corrosion. In its current storage environment, the bracelet is fairly stable.

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