Antique Fine Gurunsi / Kasena Bracelet – Burkina Faso

Early to mid 20th century. Bronze, lost‑wax casting. Weight: 116.5 g (4.11 oz). Approx. dimensions: 6.5 cm high × 6.2 cm wide (2.56 × 2.44 in).

This open bronze bracelet features prominent triangular terminals decorated with incised linear motifs and bordered by granulated reliefs. The repeated triangular forms reflect a structured geometric vocabulary commonly found in Gurunsi metalwork. The arched band is further articulated with raised nodules and engraved patterns, indicating careful workmanship and a function beyond everyday adornment.

The bracelet was cast using the traditional lost‑wax process, resulting in a unique object not intended for everyday wear but rather for ceremonial, social, or status‑related use.

The Kasena, part of the broader Gurunsi cultural group, inhabit regions of southern Burkina Faso and northern Ghana. They are renowned for their highly developed geometric aesthetic, visible not only in metalwork but also in architecture, wall painting, and body decoration. Kasena bronze ornaments often function as markers of identity, social standing, and cultural continuity, reflecting a worldview in which material forms embody both social and symbolic meaning.

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