Carlotta - the museum database

H04 :: Kaurisnäckor som valuta och dekoration i Afrika

Object description

Kaurisnäckor från ögruppen Maldiverna har hittats i flera tusen år gamla gravar i Egypten och importerades till Västafrika redan under 1000-talet e.Kr. Det var först när den transatlantiska slavhandeln tog fart under 1700-talet som kauri började handlas med i stora volymer utmed västkusten. Europeiska slavhandlare förde med sig stora mängder kaurisnäckor som delbetalning för slavar som sedan fördes till Amerika. Eftersom snäckorna var hållbara, lättransporterade och tillgängliga - men inte fanns i överflöd - var det en stabil valuta.

I mitten av 1800-talet översvämmades marknaden av kaurisnäckor från Afrikas östkust, vilket ledde till att värdet på kauri minskade radikalt. Dödstöten kom när de europeiska kolonialmakterna förbjöd användningen av kaurisnäckor som betalningsmedel i början av 1900-talet. Trots det har man på vissa platser fortsatt fram till våra dagar att använda sig av kauri som ceremoniell valuta och som dekoration.

Föremålen du ser här är från första halvan av 1900-talet och från olika delar av Afrika. En del av dem har använts av religiösa specialister medan andra är nyttoföremål och huvudprydnader. Kaurisnäckor som dekoration har haft skilda betydelser, men kan till exempel symbolisera kvinnlighet, fertilitet och rikedom.

Data elements
References (14)

Monterdel

H04

Magasinet - id

H04

Titel

Kaurisnäckor som valuta och dekoration i Afrika

Titel, engelska

Kauri shells as currency and decoration in Africa

Beskrivning

Beskrivning - engelska

Kauri shells from the Maldive Islands have been found in Egyptian graves that are thousands of years old. As early as the 11th century AD they were imported to West Africa. But it was in the 18th century, when the Trans-Atlantic slave trade increased, that kauri shells began to be traded in large volumes along the western coast. European slave traders brought vast quantities of kauri shells as partial payment for slaves who were then shipped to America. These shells, sustainable, easy to ship and available – but not abundant – formed a stable currency.

In the mid- 1800’s the market was drowned in kauri shells from the east coast of Africa, leading to a radical decrease of the kauri value. The final blow came in the early 20th century when the use of kauri as payment was banned by the European colonial powers. However, in certain places the use of kauri as ceremonial currency and as decoration is still in function.

These objects are from the first half of the 20th century and from different parts of Africa. Some of them were used by religious specialists, others are utensils and headdresses. Kauri shells as decorations have had various implications; they could symbolize femininity, fertility and wealth.

Belongs to Del av utställning

Magasinet - H :: Magasinets ordning - Organiskt

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