Mbole Woman’s Massive Copper Anklet

This massive copper anklet was worn by Mbole women of the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. One was worn on each leg.

It is of flattened spherical ‘C’ form with an opening on one side. The opening is decorative however. The main opening is large enough for the foot to slide in.

Such large anklets were a way to suggest the prestige and wealth of a man when worn by his wife or wives. They functioned as both a store of wealth and also could be used in transactions and so were a form of currency as well as being items of adornment.

(At least one black and white photographs dating to the 1940s shows one man and several women wearing such an anklet but it is possible that the man wore the anklets at the behest of the photographer, and so this was not an accurate wearing of such anklets. All other images show them being worn by women only.)

This actual example is illustrated on a full page in Ginzberg (2000, p. 210).

Other examples are illustrated in Bartolomucci (2012, 104) and Borel (1994, 69).

That copper is used in such abundance is not surprising – significant native copper deposits were found locally.

This anklet was in the Marc Ginzburg Collection (and as mentioned, published in a book on that collection). Later it was acquired by Sheikh Saud bin Muhammed Al Thani of Qatar, a profligate collector. The Sheikh passed away in 2014.

The anklet is in excellent condition, and has a fine, dark patina.

 

Above: Mbole women with similar anklets, Congo, 1920s