Ceremonial staff "ricade" · Benin, Fon · ID: 3038909
not available anymore
Provenance
Claire & Frederick Mebel, New York, USAYann Ferrandin, Paris, France
Size
H: 56 cm
H: 22.0 inch
Description
wood, metal sheet, silver, metal tags, hook-shaped wooden core, coated with fine chased metal foil, base and head piece put-on, floral and wave-shaped ornaments attached, royal symbols elaborately worked in silver, good condition;
“ricades” developed from war axes and symbolized 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.
Comparing literature
Robbins, Warren M. & Nancy Ingram Nooter, African Art in American Collections, o.O. 1989, p. 208