Antique Baum Bronze/ Copper Alloy Currency Cuff Cameroon, Africa

Description

DESCRIPTION: This is a huge, magnificent Artisan Made bronze/ copper alloy casting, made by the Baum People, of Cameroon, Africa.  The design is made using the "Lost Wax" method where the piece is fabricated first using wax, including delicate threading with wax to form the details.  Once built, the wax piece is encased painstakingly in a clay which hardens to form a mold.  Heating then allows the wax to be displaced and leaves the mold form where the metal can be poured in.  This method had been used for thousands of years, although this particular Lost Wax form was designed in Cameroon following a revival of Artisans and Crafts during the reign of Fon Njoya in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.  These oversized and ornate cuffs became very popular, and much admired, even outshining some Regions known for their Lost Wax creations.  These "cuffs" and "bracelets" can range from tiny 1.5" to extremely large 12.5"!  They have found their place among the traditional metal currencies- bronze, copper, and mixed metals that have been traded for goods for hundreds, even thousands of years.  Some, like the manilla were both currency and jewelry, and many large heavy pieces were kept in the King's compound and traded as currency before and even after the introduction of Western currency.
This huge intricately worked cuff is a Copper Alloy mix, so is Bronze with high ratio of Copper (Bronze is primarily copper).  It is a warm copper color, with some verdigris green in spots- a very pretty patina.  I am guessing this cuff could be an Antique by now.  The inner surface appears more "greenish" in photos because of the camera Flash!  These make a very interesting display piece and are very impressive. The detail is exceptionally nice.
SIZE: This huge cuff is ~4.5" wide X ~4.5" deep, ~2.75" width.  Weight is a heavy 1 lb. 3.6 ounces.
CONDITION:  Very good condition, is smooth and well finished on the inside, with well finished ends and surface.  The outer surface shows nice detailing, with openings between the designs that show a hollow core.  You can hear a few small charcoal fragments inside the core from the hot casting furnace.  Please use the photographs to help determine appearance and condition, and zoom in as needed.
SPECIAL SHIPPING:
I am estimating this  will need a custom box about 12" X 12" X 8" and will be the equivalent cost of a USPS MEDIUM Flat Rate Priority Box.  Should you choose Priority and it costs LESS we will refund the difference. (Priority does not charge for weight- within limits).  We always pay Insurance.  You can save money by picking USPS Retail Ground, but it can take 10 days depending on your location.
PLEASE contact me before paying if you are buying multiple items and I will quote for adjusted combined shipping price.  Thanks!
I have been buying Folk Art, Tribal Art, and Antique Trade Beads for almost 50 years, and had a Wholesale and Retail Bead Store, Folk Art, and Tribal Art Store in Greensboro, NC for some 25 years (Lost and Found Gallery), and am now semi-retired.  We are just beginning to sell on eBay.  Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about the item.
Sorry but we can only ship to the Continental USA at this time, but hope to expand in the near future.
PAYMENT:
We accept PayPal, but hope to expand your options in the near future
SHIPPING:
We Pack very well, insure, and ship USPS Priority*
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NOTE: IF YOU WANT TO SAVE MONEY ON SHIPPING YOU CAN PICK USPS RETAIL GROUND BUT IT TAKES MUCH LONGER TO ARRIVE