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The finest objects brought to you by {name}

Dimitri André

Katanga Cross (‘handa’), Zaïre (DR Congo)

material: Copper

25.5 x 25 cm, 985 g.

age: early- mid-1800


The Katanga Cross or ‘handa’, was a form of ancient money used in and around present-day Congo (DRC). Handa's were X shaped ingots made by pouring molten copper into either a stone or sand mold. They came in all sizes, represented stored value, and were a display of wealth or prestige. Larger examples as this one at auction, are known to have been traded as far as Yemen, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.

Copper ingots were used as currency in the 19th and 20th centuries. They take their name from Katanga, a copper mining region in the present-day Democratic Republic of Congo.

Literature:
The Traditional African Art – by Henrik Ellert 2002

Excellent 

Currency - Copper - Katanga Cross - Congo DRC 

African Art

Reserve price

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Location

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Object

Tribal sculptures statues carvings and figurines

Tribal masks

Tribal art and objects

Figure

Dance mask

Mask

Sculpture

Ancestor figure

Painting

Book

Fetish figure

Carving

Catalogue

Tribal weaponry and shields

Arrow

Statue

Statuette

Short sword

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Tribal mask

Bow and arrow

Tribal jewellery and adornments

Stool

Coin

Country of origin

DR Congo

Mali

Côte d'Ivoire

Nigeria

Congo

Côte d’Ivoire

Gabon

Cameroon

Burkina Faso

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Africa

Ghana

South Africa

Tanzania

Togo

Benin

Angola

Haiti

Chad

Liberia

Niger

Sierra Leone

Ethiopia

Guinea

Material

Wood

Bronze

Copper

Iron (wrought)

Iron

Leather

Patinated bronze

Earthenware

Terracotta

Bone

Iron (cast/wrought)

Glass

Brass

Metal

Hardwood

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Textile

Silver

Textiles

Cotton

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Stone

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Composite

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Condition

Good condition

Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes

Fair condition

Excellent condition

Good

Fair condition -  heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing

Excellent condition: barely used with minimal signs of wear

Excellent

Fair

As new - unused

Good condition - used with small signs of ageing

Good condition - used with some signs of wear

Good condition, see description

Needs restoration

As new

Ungraded

New or as new, unused with or without original packaging

Poor - heavily used with major cracks, damages or major parts missing

Very good condition, see description

Very good

Mixed / Multiple

Excellent condition - barely used with minimal signs of wear

Period

Mid 20th century

Early 20th century

1950-1960

1960-1970

1930-1940

1920-1930

1910-1920

Late 20th century

Late 19th century

1970-1980

1940-1950

1990-2000

2000-2010

1900-1910

1980-1990

1750-1800

1850-1900

2020+

2010-2020

Early 19th century

1800-1850

1500-1550

Mid 19th century

1st half 20th century

Subject

Female figures

Nature

America

Male figures

Oceania

Style

Naive Art

Antique

Vintage

Modern

Technique

Acrylic on canvas

Acrylic on panel

Acrylic on board

Watercolour

Oil on canvas

Signature

Not signed

Hand signed

Binding

Softback

Hardback

Edition

Unique

1st Edition

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Language

African Art

This object is no longer available, but there’s still lots to explore

Currency - Copper - Katanga Cross - Congo DRC

956 objects

Related collections

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African Art

This object is no longer available, but there’s still lots to explore

Currency - Copper - Katanga Cross - Congo DRC

956 objects

Related collections