Currency c. mid 20th century
angasorafo
natural stone pattern
3d sculpting
stone
sculpture
sculptural image
unrealistic statue
stoneware
sculpting
ceramic
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.
Comments
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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