Bracelet

Bracelets were essential to a woman’s collection, and a simple version was often a Wolof woman’s first acquisition. Like necklaces and earrings, bracelets come in a wide variety of inventive styles, from the braided and twisted designs, which required the female client’s presence to designate the tightness of the twist, to delicate, European-inspired flowers, to Islamic-inspired half-moon bracelets.

Gold hinged bracelet composed of eight vertical panels. The panels are alternating in design: half of the panels have three coins, with a profile head, set in twisted wire and flanked by four applied and flattened star elements and the other half is composed of two opposing twisted wire and filigree crescent shapes with applied diamond and star elements. The coins may or may not have been used or in actual circulation. Hinge pins closures.

Marian Johnson, purchased in Dakar, Senegal, 1963-late 20th century to 2012

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