Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 55 17 Feb 2021
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World Coins and Tokens, Shackle Money, Nigeria and West Africa, a group of brass/bronze Okpoho Manillas (14) of penannular or almost ring-like form with spreading finial terminations, late 19th century, almost certainly of Birmingham manufacture, each approx. 50mm., seemingly more recent manufacture than the those in the previous lots and more brass/bronze in appearance, smoother surface and much as made (14)
Ex Baldwin's vault
The name 'Manilla' is derived from the Spanish manella (manacle) or the Portuguese a manilha (also for a manacle or shackle), though the origin is from the Latin Manus (hand) or monilia (necklace). The Portuguese first traded with manillas in the 15th century for goods including slaves. By the 18th century a typical trading ship from Europe would bring manillas and other manufactured goods to West Africa to trade for slaves who would be taken to America, and then return to Europe with cotton for the mills. Production by British manufacturers had the edge in the brass trade in Africa with the output from the Midlands becoming known as the Birmingham manilla. Records from the 1760s show a factory in Warrington manufacturing manillas, whilst the stock list of a company in Warmly showed 'Guinea manillas'. The Cheadle Brass Wire Company opened its Manilla House and Assay Office in 1790.
Following the outlawing and abolition of the slave trade in Britain the manillas were used to trade mostly in palm oil and ivory. Indeed, they became such an entrenched currency that it wasn't until 1949 that the British Government withdrew them and, having purchased over 30 million of them, finally banned them. Some of the earlier pieces remain strung together.
Ex Baldwin's vault
The name 'Manilla' is derived from the Spanish manella (manacle) or the Portuguese a manilha (also for a manacle or shackle), though the origin is from the Latin Manus (hand) or monilia (necklace). The Portuguese first traded with manillas in the 15th century for goods including slaves. By the 18th century a typical trading ship from Europe would bring manillas and other manufactured goods to West Africa to trade for slaves who would be taken to America, and then return to Europe with cotton for the mills. Production by British manufacturers had the edge in the brass trade in Africa with the output from the Midlands becoming known as the Birmingham manilla. Records from the 1760s show a factory in Warrington manufacturing manillas, whilst the stock list of a company in Warmly showed 'Guinea manillas'. The Cheadle Brass Wire Company opened its Manilla House and Assay Office in 1790.
Following the outlawing and abolition of the slave trade in Britain the manillas were used to trade mostly in palm oil and ivory. Indeed, they became such an entrenched currency that it wasn't until 1949 that the British Government withdrew them and, having purchased over 30 million of them, finally banned them. Some of the earlier pieces remain strung together.