Lobi Bronze Bracelet Currency

Diagonal grooves wrap the top of this dark ring like a thin rope.

This bracelet currency is Lobi, from Burkina Faso, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is bronze. The Lobi live in southwestern Burkina Faso and neighboring areas, and they are known for farming, for wooden figures and for metalwork. By outline, a rounded open band with slanting incised lines along the outer face and a smoother inner surface. The ends are small, flat-cut blocks. The surface shows a glossy reddish brown mixed with darker, worn areas. It is 2.5 inches wide, 2.5 deep and 0.5 high.

A rope pattern with a little polish on top.