3.2 Metalworking and Jewelry Making

African metalworking showcases incredible skill and artistry. Craftsmen use various metals like brass, bronze, and gold to create stunning objects. These pieces serve important cultural roles, from marking social status to preserving ancestral connections.

Lost-wax casting and forging are key techniques in African metalwork. Artists employ these methods to produce intricate designs, from geometric patterns to animal motifs. Regional styles and influences, like Islamic art, add further diversity to this rich tradition.

Metals and Techniques in African Metalworking

Metals in African metalworking

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• Brass alloy of copper and zinc commonly used for decorative objects and jewelry (masks, figurines)
• Bronze alloy of copper and tin frequently employed for sculptures and ritual objects (Benin bronzes, Ife heads)
• Gold precious metal found naturally highly valued for jewelry and royal regalia (Ashanti gold weights, Akan goldwork)
• Iron widely used for tools and weapons shaped through forging (Yoruba Ogun staffs, Dogon iron figures)
• Silver less common but utilized in some regions for jewelry and ornaments (Tuareg crosses, Ethiopian crosses)
• Copper malleable metal often used in its pure form or as a base for alloys (Katanga crosses, Congolese wire sculptures)

Techniques of lost-wax casting and forging

• Lost-wax casting process creates intricate metal objects using a wax model
  1. Create detailed wax model of desired object
  2. Coat wax model with layers of clay to form mold
  3. Heat mold to melt and drain out wax
  4. Pour molten metal into hollow mold
  5. Break clay mold after cooling to reveal final metal piece
• Forging shapes metal through hammering and heating
  • Hot forging works with heated metal to increase malleability (blades, tools)
  • Cold forging shapes metal at room temperature for precise details (jewelry, decorative elements)
  • Tools include various hammers, anvils, and tongs for manipulating metal

Role of metal objects in ceremonies

• Social status indicators distinguish rank and authority (crowns, scepters)
• Spiritual and religious significance in ritual objects and protective amulets (Vodun altars, Dogon masks)
• Rites of passage mark important life transitions (engagement rings, initiation bracelets)
• Economic value serves as currency and wealth storage (Akan gold dust boxes, Katanga crosses)
• Ancestral connections preserved through heirloom pieces and commemorative objects (royal staffs, memorial sculptures)

Designs across African metal art

• Geometric patterns feature zigzags, spirals, and concentric circles (Akan gold weights, Dogon jewelry)
• Zoomorphic designs depict animals and mythical creatures (Benin leopard figures, Senufo bird pendants)
• Anthropomorphic motifs represent human figures and masks (Fang reliquary guardians, Kota figures)
• Symbolic elements convey cultural meanings (Adinkra symbols, Nsibidi script)
• Regional variations showcase diverse techniques
  • West African filigree work creates delicate patterns (Wolof jewelry)
  • East African beaded jewelry incorporates metal and glass beads (Maasai necklaces)
  • North African enamel techniques add colorful designs to metal (Kabyle jewelry)
• Islamic art influences North and West African metalwork
  • Calligraphy integrates Arabic script into designs (Tuareg amulets)
  • Arabesque patterns feature intricate geometric and floral motifs (Moroccan lamps)