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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

No reserve price

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Closing date

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Location

France

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Spain

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Germany

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Hungary

Norway

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Object

Tribal sculptures statues carvings and figurines

Tribal art and objects

Tribal masks

Sculpture

Figure

Mask

Dance mask

Statue

Ancestor figure

Fetish figure

Carving

Book

Painting

Dagger

Shield

Tribal mask

Catalogue

Tribal weaponry and shields

Bracelet

Headrest

Libation vase

Short sword

Bow and arrow

Neck rest

Country of origin

DR Congo

Mali

Nigeria

Côte d'Ivoire

Burkina Faso

Congo

Gabon

Cameroon

Côte d’Ivoire

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Africa

Benin

Ghana

Angola

Tanzania

Togo

Liberia

Chad

Ethiopia

South Africa

Kenya

Niger

Ivory Coast

Material

Wood

Bronze

Terracotta

Copper

Iron (wrought)

Textiles

Glass

Brass

Patinated bronze

Bone

Leather

Iron (cast/wrought)

Paper

Hardwood

Iron (cast)

Earthenware

Pottery

Coral

Glass (beads)

Hair

Clay

Pewter/Tin

Canvas

Wool

Iron

Condition

Good condition

Excellent condition

Fair condition

Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes

Good

Fair condition -  heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing

Excellent condition: barely used with minimal signs of wear

Good condition, see description

Good condition - used with small signs of ageing

As new

Good condition - used with some signs of wear

Needs restoration

Very good

Excellent

As new - unused

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

Ungraded

Fine

Fair

Excellent condition - barely used with minimal signs of wear

Fair condition - used with visible signs of wear

Vintage - used with visible signs of wear

Period

Mid 20th century

Early 20th century

Late 20th century

1950-1960

Late 19th century

2000-2010

1960-1970

1940-1950

1930-1940

1970-1980

Early 19th century

1900-1910

1980-1990

1850-1900

1910-1920

1920-1930

1750-1800

2020+

Mid 19th century

1990-2000

Early 17th century

Subject

City scene

Style

Vintage

Antique

Arts & Crafts

Minimalist

Art Deco

Naive Art

Technique

Silkscreen / Serigraph

Acrylic on canvas

Acrylic on board

Signature

Not signed

Hand signed

Binding

Softback

Edition

Unique

1st Edition

Illustrated Edition

Numbered edition

Language

English

French

Spanish

1900-2000

1400-1900

After 2000

Before 1400

Artist

Unknown artist

Provenance

African Art

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

Currency - Copper - Katanga Cross - Congo DRC

763 objects

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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

763 objects

Related collections