West African Snake | Spiral Currency Sculpture on Wood
$950.00
Like many pieces of traditional African metalwork, this West African spiral sculpture served as a stable form of currency. Used to negotiate major life transactions such as weddings, these currency pieces were also a potent symbol of wealth and power. Foraged from a metal alloy and shaped into an elongated coil, the piece is deliberately abstract, with a decorative aesthetic that confirms its value as currency. The piece displays motifs drawn from multiple cultures, such as Lobi and Toussian snake currencies and the coil bracelets worn by Igbo women. Mounted on a custom steel stand, this sinuous currency looks especially striking as a sculptural object atop a sideboard or console table.
Like many pieces of traditional African metalwork, this West African spiral sculpture served as a stable form of currency. Used to negotiate major life transactions such as weddings, these currency pieces were also a potent symbol of wealth and power. Foraged from a metal alloy and shaped into an elongated coil, the piece is deliberately abstract, with a decorative aesthetic that confirms its value as currency. The piece displays motifs drawn from multiple cultures, such as Lobi and Toussian snake currencies and the coil bracelets worn by Igbo women. Mounted on a custom steel stand, this sinuous currency looks especially striking as a sculptural object atop a sideboard or console table.
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