Dutch slave trade?

My father-in-law just passed and we are going to his stuff and we found this. He was 80 years old and he said it was five generations removed he's from Holland originally. It's very heavy, maybe 15 lbs. no machine marks, reminds me of a door knocker. Thanks for the help!

 

Welcome, bammerjeep!

It's awfully small to be a restraint device, weight notwithstanding. Plus it looks "decorative." If it were "worn" as in a bracelet, the wearer's hands would have to be pretty small to fit through the hole.

A real stumper, this.

Does the family history contain stories about being involved in the slave trade?

 

Hi and welcome to the boards!

Not a clue and not as heavy as yours but interesting and maybe some keywords to explore.

http://www.saheldesign.com/2012/01/20/heavy-metal-for-grannies-bronze-anklets-from-yesteryear/

 

No not that I know of he moved here from the Hague at age 16 and weighs 6 pounds

 

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting that he had anything personally to do with the trade by the Dutch (which was pretty much over by around 1800.) Just wondered whether any stories of the previous 5 generations (before him) might have suggested a connection way back when. Especially with the title for this thread.

 

You may have something there, SIS, although with no hinge the foot would have to fit through the hole to get it on and off. Maybe for a child?

 

Old southeast Asian money

Around Thailand

 

Oh no offense lol, I'm grabbing at straws. Though they had nazis in the family I have some of that stuff too

 

looks like an african money bracelet..

 

K is right, here are some other forms, if you can see them thru all the site signup stuff:

https://www.pinterest.com/bczerniewski/african-currency/

 

Yep ...... money or dowry bracelet. It doesn't look like the North African ones I am more familiar with so Southeast Asia could very well be right.

 

wow!!! I have just fallen in love with this... currency!!!

it is probably a manila currency... a trade currency of north africa.. especially for Nigerian tribes or ivory coast! there are many types, sizes etc.. some are small.. some are huge and heavy...with higher value!

Europeans were making bracelets like that in europe too, to use them in africa... so..

these were used to buy women, slaves etc....

it's a beauty!!!