Additional Information:

Multiple Lobi iron currencies. Yours would be identical to the one in the picture!

The Lobi live as farmers and spend much time in their fields. There they encounter numerous serpents, including the Bit of viper and the Boa Constrictor. To protect them from the dangers that the snakes represent forged iron snakes were either worn on their person or placed on personal altars. Women will attach smaller sinuous, flat-modeled images of serpents to the sides of their legs just above the ankle reaching up the leg close to the knee. Generally placed on the outer side of the leg they may often be on the inside of the leg or both sides as well. The bodies will be displayed with a sinuous set of curves as though the snakes were moving through the grass. The heads are simply defined as a triangular shape with the mouth possibly noted with a thin line beaten into the side of the face. The tails are depicted by a tapering form. These hand forged iron in the form of a snake were also used as currency for local transactions.

Further Readings:

Meyer, P. “Kunst und Religion der Lobi”. 1981. (p. 164, Ill.221).

Blandin, A. “Fer noire”. 1992. (p. 119-124 with illustrations).

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