Ingots
date: label: Date
content: 13th-17th century
name: label: Maker
content: Luba artist
notes: label: Label Text
content: Due to its scarcity, copper, the "red" metal, was associated with kings, leadership and wealth, all important factors in its use as currency. In parts of west and central Africa, copper ingots were a widely used form of currency. An ingot is a mass of metal cast into a bar, arch, X or H shape. Ingots were used as stored wealth that could be easily transported and used as a unit of currency. They are cast in a range of sizes, and are often melted down and re-cast into different shapes.
label: Description
content: Small copper ingot currency or croisettes of the HX type. This group of 5 ingots shows stable oxidation with some minor pitting. Mold form ridges are visible on the underside.
label: Provenance
content: Tom Joyce, Santa Fe, 1986 to 2002
label: Exhibition History
content: BIG/small, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., January 17-July 23, 2006
label: Exhibition History
content: From Slavery to Freedom, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati, July 2004-October 2007 (2002-10-3.3 only)
label: Published References
content: National Museum of African Art. 2006. BIG/small Family Guide. Exhibition booklet. Washington, D.C.: National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution.
label: Content Statement
content: As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
label: Image Requests
content: High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
place: label: Geography
content: Democratic Republic of the Congo
topic: label: Topic
content: male
label: Topic
content: Trade
label: Topic
content: Currency
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African Art Collection
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Tom Joyce and museum purchase with funds donated by Carl Jennings
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African Art
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2002-10-3
objectType: label: Type
content: Sculpture
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: Copper alloy
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D: 3.2 x 2.5 x 0.6 cm (1 1/4 x 1 x 1/4 in.) (average dimensions)