Whydah Galley

M ELEY · 24th November 2018, 07:00 AM

Thanks again, Rick, for posting this. The 'man to the right' is Barry Clifford himself, discoverer of the Whydah, archaeologist, treasure hunter, author, museum founder and scalawag! He is a controversial man, with some run-ins with both state officials, other archaeologists and former employees, but I always liked the guy. Kind of a modern day pirate. BTW, after seeing this thread, I decided to purchase a couple of old bronze manilla as a tip of the hat to the African slaves who gained their freedom through piracy!

Pukka Bundook · 24th November 2018, 02:14 PM

Gents,

Interesting thread, but at the risk of appearing as thick as I am, How are these bracelets associated with the slave trade?
By this I mean they don't look strong enogh to have been shackles....

Please forgive my ignorance!

PS,
When I first saw these , I thought how like Bronze age torques they were !

fernando · 24th November 2018, 03:06 PM

Richard, i believe that, these manilhas are not directly associated with the slavery phenomenon but, only circumstancially. Indeed their basic purpose was that of exchanging currency units, as also other implements of similar kind, where their metal (bronze) contents represent their intrinsic value, in cultures where money was (is) not based in coins and notes, valued by Central bank treasures (so they say

).
I have once bought a rather nice example, which i offered to my daughter. Although they may be considered, judging by their shape, as actual bracelets, the one of mine, for one, although rather sturdy, was to narrow to fit my young daughters wrist, meaning that their purpose was (only) directed to market currency, that not for adornment.
Other members will most probably contest my assessment

.

24th November 2018, 07:00 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,156	Thanks again, Rick, for posting this. The 'man to the right' is Barry Clifford himself, discoverer of the Whydah, archaeologist, treasure hunter, author, museum founder and scalawag! He is a controversial man, with some run-ins with both state officials, other archaeologists and former employees, but I always liked the guy. Kind of a modern day pirate. BTW, after seeing this thread, I decided to purchase a couple of old bronze manilla as a tip of the hat to the African slaves who gained their freedom through piracy!

24th November 2018, 02:14 PM	#2
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Gents, Interesting thread, but at the risk of appearing as thick as I am, How are these bracelets associated with the slave trade? By this I mean they don't look strong enogh to have been shackles.... Please forgive my ignorance! PS, When I first saw these , I thought how like Bronze age torques they were !

24th November 2018, 03:06 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Richard, i believe that, these manilhas are not directly associated with the slavery phenomenon but, only circumstancially. Indeed their basic purpose was that of exchanging currency units, as also other implements of similar kind, where their metal (bronze) contents represent their intrinsic value, in cultures where money was (is) not based in coins and notes, valued by Central bank treasures (so they say ). I have once bought a rather nice example, which i offered to my daughter. Although they may be considered, judging by their shape, as actual bracelets, the one of mine, for one, although rather sturdy, was to narrow to fit my young daughters wrist, meaning that their purpose was (only) directed to market currency, that not for adornment. Other members will most probably contest my assessment .