{"product_id":"3-kissi-pennies-wedding-currency-sierra-leone-matter-collection-155657","title":"3 Kissi Pennies Wedding Currency Sierra Leone MATTER COLLECTION","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis listing is for 3 Kissi pennies, approximately 11-15 inches each.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Kissi of Western Guinea and Sierra Leone used these strangely shaped metal pieces as currency for more than a hundred years. (Kissi and Toma peoples; Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, West Africa). Apparently, the shape came about at least in part because it was virtually impossible to \"shave\" or alter the amount of metal in them without the tampering becoming immediately obvious. Larger \"denominations\" were made by twisting several pieces together and securing with leather strips. If one of them became legitimately broken, its value could only be restored in a special ceremony conducted by a shaman. Therefore, it was said to have a \"soul.\" \"In earlier times, marriages among the Gbande were confirmed with a Kissi penny. Once part of the bride price had been paid, the groom placed a kissi penny on his bride's head and said \"THIS IS MY WIFE.\" See them in Schaedler's EARTH AND ORE-25000 YEARS OF AFRICAN ART IN TERRA COTTA AND METAL.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eProvenance: Matter Collection\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom the collection of Margie and Phil Matter. Margie lived in South Africa, and later she and her husband Phil opened a gallery in Tucson. Everything in this collection was in their home for more than thirty years. Africa Direct recently bought the collection; at 95, Margie wants to share the things she has loved so much. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_FormFieldLabel_1w1zv_32\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"Polaris-Text--root Polaris-Text--bodyMd\"\u003e3 Kissi Pennies\u003cbr\u003eDimensions: 11-15 inches long\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003e155657\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"sku 155000","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51511295836455,"sku":"155657","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0826\/1015\/9911\/files\/IMG_1134_46099b5b-f341-4a40-aa29-7cd9e12e8d56.jpg?v=1781631999","url":"https:\/\/africadirect.com\/products\/3-kissi-pennies-wedding-currency-sierra-leone-matter-collection-155657","provider":"Africa Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}