Thick brass manilla bracelet with etchings
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Manillas are metal pieces resembling bracelets which were used as currency in many places in West Africa. This and similar objects is one of the few parts of the collection which can be confidently placed within a timeframe and specific geographical location.
The group of objects includes items which are typical of later British versions, cast in Birmingham and imported to West Africa to be used as currency in (amongst other things) the slave trade. They ceased to be legal tender in British West Africa in 1949.
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Black and white photo from exhibition, ‘Masquerading: The Art of the Notting Hill Carnival 1986-7’