Rare & Massive Chenkom Tribally Forged Iron Hoe Currency Nigeria Afo Ngas #1

  

RARE & MASSIVE CHENKOM TRIBALLY FORGED IRON HOE CURRENCY NIGERIA AFO, NGAS. His is a TRIBALLY SMELTED AND FORGED IRON currency artifact over 100 years old. Generally referred to as "Afo hoe currencies", "chenkoms" or "galmas", these rare and enigmatic objects are the largest and heaviest tribally smelted and forged iron artifacts in the world. Accurate dating of these is somewhat difficult, as relevant literature is scarce - the consensus seems to be the 18th to early 20th century, or earlier for authentic charcoal iron examples.

Given the amount of iron ore, charcoal, and hard work involved in production, it would appear they were made when the labor-intensive process of iron making was at its apogee in both efficiency and proficiency in West Africa. This was before massive deforestation resulted from charcoal production (to feed the insatiable iron furnaces), and local iron smelting became unnecessary due to the availability of cheap iron and scrap steel from colonial sources. This X-large and rugged example of the African blacksmith's art weighs 29 lbs.

And stands 30 1/2" high and 24" wide from tab to tab. A very heavy piece with deep and dramatic hammer strikes on face. Patina shows great color contrast. Heavy patina and protective oxide covers the piece.

The raw, cratered iron surface is a striking landscape of rippling topography, the result of the primitive smelting and forging process. Pics show front and back, surface and. Forge weld detail in different lighting conditions to more fully accentuate these features.