Katanga Cross Currency Congo Rohner Collection

This brass Katanga Cross originates from Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and reflects one of Central Africa's most recognizable historic forms of currency. Produced in the mineral-rich Katanga region, these cross-shaped ingots were cast from copper or brass and circulated for centuries as a medium of exchange. Their value varied according to size and weight, and they were used in trade, ceremonial exchanges, and as symbols of wealth and status.

The Katanga region has long been known for its abundant copper deposits, and skilled metalworkers developed sophisticated casting techniques that made these crosses both practical and visually distinctive. Today, Katanga Crosses are appreciated as important examples of African metalwork that represent the region's rich trading history and craftsmanship. From the Rohner Collection.

Provenance: John R. Rohner Collection
Rohner, a museum curator for decades, aimed his practiced eye for authenticity to African art beginning in the early 1980s. His passion for this art only grew through the decades he built his collection––always with an aim for a broad and representative array of pieces. The collection appears in his book, Art Treasures from African Runners (2000, University Press of Colorado). 

Item #802 on pg. 269

Height: 8.0
Width: 7.5
Depth: 0.25

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