Old Lobi Iron Armlet (Bracelet) – Burkina Faso

Iron. External diameter: 9 cm (3.54 in). Internal diameter: 7.5 cm (2.95 in). Weight: 48 g (1.69 oz)

This elegant and unusual Lobi iron armlet is forged from a single piece of hand-worked iron, formed into a distinctive undulating, serpentine shape and terminating in a stylized pointed motif.

Such armlets were traditionally worn as personal adornments and could also serve as indicators of status, identity, or cultural affiliation.

The Lobi are an ethnic group living primarily in southwestern Burkina Faso, northern Côte d’Ivoire, and northwestern Ghana. Renowned for their rich artistic traditions and highly independent social structure, the Lobi are particularly celebrated for their expressive ironwork, personal adornments, and distinctive wooden sculptures, which hold an important place in the cultural heritage of West Africa.

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