Ceremonial staff "recade" ·  Benin, Fon · ID: 3034427

Description

wood, completely covered with embossed sheet brass, carefully forged brass blade springing from the open mouth of a lion, adorned with wire spirals and two fish, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, socle;
“rekades” developed from war axes. The “rekade” symbolizes the authority of its owner. The messenger of the king carried the veiled staff on his shoulder, first uncovering it in presence of the receiver of the message, in order to seal the dispatch.

The object Ceremonial staff “recade” with the object ID 3034427 was last part of the auction 72nd tribal art auction at March 9, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 329 achieved a sales price of EUR 350.

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Comparing literature

Zirngibl, Manfred A., Seltene afrikanische Kurzwaffen, Grafenau 1983, p. 19, ill. 10