Currency blade
mid-20th century
Object PlaceNigeria
Medium/TechniqueIron
DimensionsOverall: 69.9 cm (27 1/2 in.)
Lender Accessory: 37.5 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm (14 3/4 x 5 x 5 in.)
Lender Accessory: 37.5 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm (14 3/4 x 5 x 5 in.)
Credit LineGift of Timothy Phillips
Accession number2006.2048
On View
On viewClassificationsWarfare, hunting, fishing
Collections
This elegantly shaped iron blade, called an 'akika,' is an early form of currency for Idoma-speaking people in Nigeria that continues to be used for some traditions today. In the 17th century, traders along the Benue river used akika alongside a barter system to conduct regular trade. After British colonial occupation and the imposition of national currency, akika began to be used only for ceremonial occasions, such as a wedding, where the groom's family customarily gives a substantial gift to the bride's family. Originally formed from a hoe blade, one surface of the akika is hammered while the other side is flat.The akika's striking form makes it popular among collectors in the US and Europe. This piece is of excellent aesthetic quality, compared to more recent such objects that have been produced for the art market which may be poorly made from metal alloys and reduced in size and weight.
ProvenanceBetween 2000 and 2006, acquired by Timothy Phillips, Boston [see note]; 2006, year-end gift of Timothy Phillips to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 24, 2007)NOTE: Probably purchased from a dealer in Paris, Brussels, or New York.
mid-20th century
early 20th century
mid-20th century
mid 20th century
