Currency by Angas or Afo

Currency c. mid 20th century

angasorafo's Profile Picture

angasorafo

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natural stone pattern

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3d sculpting

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stone

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sculpture

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sculptural image

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unrealistic statue

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stoneware

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sculpting

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ceramic

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statue

"Currency" is an abstract sculpture made of iron, likely created by the artist Angas or Afo in the mid-20th century. The piece is currently located at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The work's simple form, resembling a shield or a flat, rounded plate, is both evocative and intriguing. Its rough, rusted surface gives it a sense of age and history, suggesting a connection to the past. "Currency" is a testament to the beauty of simple forms and the expressive potential of found materials.

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minneapolisinstituteofart's Profile Picture
minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

Several smiths worked together to forge this humongous piece of iron into the shape of a curved hoe. Among the heaviest currencies in Africa—this one weighs a hefty 39 1/4 pounds (17.8 kg)—it was used primarily in matrimonial payments by the Nigerian Angas and Afo peoples. A groom would offer several blades to his bride’s relatives in recognition of and compensation for her ability to bear children and ensure the continuity of his lineage.

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