Kristel Mach- Research on Objects as Currency, Jan. 6th
Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibition http://www.sites.si.edu/exhibitions/exhibits/currency/main.htm For centuries, shells, beads, metal, jewelry, cloth, weapons, tools, and even salt have been used as currency on the African continent. This exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art explores the cultural beliefs underlying African monetary systems and follows the transformation of plain currencies into objects of beauty.
In Africa, where few extensive nation-states existed, commerce among various societies depended on commonly held values that spanned great geographical distances and a broad diversity of activities. Societies assigned worth to objects that were relevant to their own circumstances: objects that were rare enough to be valued yet plentiful enough to be widely traded. Daily monetary transactions were conducted with cowrie shells, aggrey (glass) beads, woven cloth strips, and raffia mats.
Monetary exchanges were often part of significant life events, such as marriage and birth, and involved items of high intrinsic, symbolic, and artistic value. The iron bridewealth blades of the Lokele and Turumbu peoples and the blade currency of the Ngbaka are examples of such prized objects.
Art, craftsmanship, and skill often influenced the acceptance of an object as currency. Blacksmiths and goldsmiths devoted their virtuosity to the creation of graceful and striking articles to be used for trade.
The very ancient Aksumite coins of Ethiopia were made by die cutters of exceptional talent. Fulani earrings were formed from thin, beaten sheets of gold that were sometimes inscribed with flowers or animals.
In Africa, all but the most ordinary currency was designed, formed, and decorated, in ways that surpassed the requirements of necessity and utility. The Artistry of African Currency examines this fascinating subject with 12 elegantly designed and illustrated panels, two of which incorporate objects used as media of exchange. These include cowrie shells, beads, a manilla (an open bracelet, cast from copper alloy, that circulated along the West African equatorial coast from the late 15th to the early 20th century), an X-shaped copper ingot, and a kissi penny (a type of long, thick iron wire that was traded throughout Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone until the 1970s).
African Bead Trade http://www.ezakwantu.com/Gallery%20Trade%20Beads%20Slave%20Beads%20African%20Currency.htm Beads are one of the earliest forms of currency used in trade. From the 16th century, a large production of decorative beads was manufactured for the exchange of goods, services and slaves. Beads were made to ease the passage of European explorers, mainly to the African and American continents. They were produced throughout Europe, while Venetians dominated production. Thousands of tons of beads were sent to Africa as ballast in slave ships on their outbound voyage, which led to the name "Slave Bead". Beads were not only exchanged for human cargo, but also ivory, gold and other goods desired in Europe and elsewhere in the world. The success of bead currency in Africa can largely be attributed to the high intrinsic value Africans placed on decorative items. Social status was easily determined by the quality, quantity and style of jewellery worn, which created the high demand for trade beads throughout the region. Because of this, beads were produced according to local demand and design.
My inspiration is People of the Sea. It's a culture of people that live in the Caribbean and are at one with the sea. They inhabit a small island with multiple waterfalls and its surrounded by miles and miles of open ocean. This culture of people can swim like fish and spend most of their days in the water. Their eyes are the bright blues and blue-greens of the sea that they spend their time in. The currency they use are pendants. These are kept around their necks so they are not lost when swimming, and are a combination of blues and greens like the sea.
This is a very compressed history of currency with a few images from various cultures.
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/economy/
Finally, I found a shell called a Cowry. It is a shell found all over the world and were used as currency Africa, China, and India, just to name a few. There are many varieties of shell that all of common characteristics. The shells of cowries are almost always smooth and shiny and more or less egg-shaped, with a long, narrow, opening and all cowry shells have a porcelain-like shine (except Hawaii's granulated cowry, Cypraea granulata) and many have colorful patterns.
Kristel Mach- Research on Objects as Currency, Jan. 6th
ReplyDeleteSmithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibition
http://www.sites.si.edu/exhibitions/exhibits/currency/main.htm
For centuries, shells, beads, metal, jewelry, cloth, weapons, tools, and even salt have been used as currency on the African continent. This exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art explores the cultural beliefs underlying African monetary systems and follows the transformation of plain currencies into objects of beauty.
In Africa, where few extensive nation-states existed, commerce among various societies depended on commonly held values that spanned great geographical distances and a broad diversity of activities. Societies assigned worth to objects that were relevant to their own circumstances: objects that were rare enough to be valued yet plentiful enough to be widely traded. Daily monetary transactions were conducted with cowrie shells, aggrey (glass) beads, woven cloth strips, and raffia mats.
Monetary exchanges were often part of significant life events, such as marriage and birth, and involved items of high intrinsic, symbolic, and artistic value. The iron bridewealth blades of the Lokele and Turumbu peoples and the blade currency of the Ngbaka are examples of such prized objects.
Art, craftsmanship, and skill often influenced the acceptance of an object as currency. Blacksmiths and goldsmiths devoted their virtuosity to the creation of graceful and striking articles to be used for trade.
The very ancient Aksumite coins of Ethiopia were made by die cutters of exceptional talent. Fulani earrings were formed from thin, beaten sheets of gold that were sometimes inscribed with flowers or animals.
In Africa, all but the most ordinary currency was designed, formed, and decorated, in ways that surpassed the requirements of necessity and utility. The Artistry of African Currency examines this fascinating subject with 12 elegantly designed and illustrated panels, two of which incorporate objects used as media of exchange. These include cowrie shells, beads, a manilla (an open bracelet, cast from copper alloy, that circulated along the West African equatorial coast from the late 15th to the early 20th century), an X-shaped copper ingot, and a kissi penny (a type of long, thick iron wire that was traded throughout Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone until the 1970s).
African Bead Trade
http://www.ezakwantu.com/Gallery%20Trade%20Beads%20Slave%20Beads%20African%20Currency.htm
Beads are one of the earliest forms of currency used in trade. From the 16th century, a large production of decorative beads was manufactured for the exchange of goods, services and slaves. Beads were made to ease the passage of European explorers, mainly to the African and American continents. They were produced throughout Europe, while Venetians dominated production. Thousands of tons of beads were sent to Africa as ballast in slave ships on their outbound voyage, which led to the name "Slave Bead". Beads were not only exchanged for human cargo, but also ivory, gold and other goods desired in Europe and elsewhere in the world. The success of bead currency in Africa can largely be attributed to the high intrinsic value Africans placed on decorative items. Social status was easily determined by the quality, quantity and style of jewellery worn, which created the high demand for trade beads throughout the region. Because of this, beads were produced according to local demand and design.
Kristel Mach- Culture, Jan. 6th
ReplyDeleteMy inspiration is People of the Sea. It's a culture of people that live in the Caribbean and are at one with the sea. They inhabit a small island with multiple waterfalls and its surrounded by miles and miles of open ocean. This culture of people can swim like fish and spend most of their days in the water. Their eyes are the bright blues and blue-greens of the sea that they spend their time in. The currency they use are pendants. These are kept around their necks so they are not lost when swimming, and are a combination of blues and greens like the sea.
I have a love of anciet china, and was able to find this brick of currency that was made by compressing tea.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/sunday_driver/2496099975/in/photostream/
This is a very compressed history of currency with a few images from various cultures.
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/economy/
Finally, I found a shell called a Cowry. It is a shell found all over the world and were used as currency Africa, China, and India, just to name a few. There are many varieties of shell that all of common characteristics. The shells of cowries are almost always smooth and shiny and more or less egg-shaped, with a long, narrow, opening and all cowry shells have a porcelain-like shine (except Hawaii's granulated cowry, Cypraea granulata) and many have colorful patterns.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowry