Ceremonial staff "ricade" · Benin, Fon · ID: 3038909
Yann Ferrandin, Paris, France
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.
The object Ceremonial staff “ricade” with the object ID 3038909 was last part of the auction 80th Tribal Art Auction at June 27, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 315.
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Comparing literature
Robbins, Warren M. & Nancy Ingram Nooter, African Art in American Collections, o.O. 1989, p. 208