West Africa, modern day Burkina Faso, ca. 16th to 19th century CE. This is a pair of delightful bronze rings depicting animals. One shows a long-beaked bird with a swirling wing design; the other, a curled pangolin. During this time period, bronze came from Europe in the form of manillas (trade currency), which were taken to west Africa and exchanged, then melted down by local artisans to form the objects that survive today. The pangolin is of particular interest -- this animal has been heavily hunted in West Africa because it is believed to possess magic. When their scales -- which are made of keratin, like human hair -- are mixed with bark from certain trees, they are used as a potion to ward off witches; the scales are also sometimes burned to keep away other animals, or buried by a house to create a magical effect for the inhabitants. Unfortunately now the animals are critically endangered. Both rings are very small -- approximately a size 4. Size: 1.9" L x 1.2" W (4.8 cm x 3 cm).

Provenance: Ex- The estate of Paul and Louise Bernheimer, Cambridge, MA and Laguna Woods, CA - acquired before 1980

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#111947

Patina and wear, but the figures are intact and the rings wearable.