Set of Three Idoma Currency Pieces

Flaring at the top to suggest a hoe, these elongated sculptural objects were used among the Idoma people of Nigeria as a form of currency. Forged from iron and hammered with horizontal markings to accentuate their tapered shape, the objects are deliberately abstract, with a decorative aesthetic that confirms their value as currency. Used to negotiate major life transactions such as weddings, these currency pieces were also a potent symbol of wealth and power.