Ceremonial staff "recade" ·  Benin, Fon · ID: 3041291

Description

wooden staff carved with lion head, covered with embossed sheet brass, carefully forged brass blade, provided with wire spirals, handle decorated with animal figure (gnu?), min. dam., slight traces of corrosion and usage;
“recades” developed from war axes. The “recade” 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 3041291 was last part of the auction 84th Tribal Art Auction at November 5, 2016 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 272 achieved a sales price of EUR 800.

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Comparing literature

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