Mongo - DR Congo

Anklet/Währung - Bronze - Mongo - Ekonda - Kongo DRK

Austrian Collection
R. Herzog Wien

Such heavy foot rings, called 'Konga', were cast by the smiths of the above tribes in the central Congo from bronze (copper-tin alloys of various grades). For this purpose, flat wooden models, which already bore the characteristic ridges, were pressed into the sandy ground. Metal was poured into these negative molds. After cooling, the smith hammered the plates over a wooden log into a round, open shape and then fitted them directly to the wearer’s leg. The legs of the women were wrapped at the lower edge of the rings with textile to prevent injuries. Only women from wealthy, upper-class families wore such foot rings. These 'Konga rings' were also used in the central Congo earlier as a form of payment ('primitive money').