Single Iron from Timbuctoo, Mali

This single iron is decorated with the cross which represents Mali (see detail) due to wear this has some age on it.

They may well be 18th century. Nothing similar has been found.

The quality of the workmanship and the style of the foot area which is a circle of brass riveted through the brass loop forming the stirrup itself. This is decorated with a criss-cross design and very worn.

The place where the leather would have been attached is worn very thin. The entire piece is patterned. This may date back 200 years. It is very much a collectors piece.

Size 4” (10 cm) in width, 5 1/2” (14 cm) in height, 1 1/4” (3 cm) width of shank.

Provenance: purchased from Harvey Derrien by Private collector 2005 approx value £50