Ceremonial sword ·  Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3038343

Description

iron blade, brass-casted grip, depicting a man in full military outfit, smoking a pipe, min. dam., traces of corrosion, small missing parts, base;
probably a so-called “ada ogun” or “sword of ogun”, Lord over iron and weapons, the patron of all Yoruba iron-workers. Kept by the master of the local guild of smiths, it served as an emblem of the craft group.

The object Ceremonial sword with the object ID 3038343 was last part of the auction 79th Tribal Art Auction at March 21, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 332.

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Comparing literature

Krieger, Kurt, Westafrikanische Plastik, Bd. II, Berlin 1969, ill. 167

Publications

African Metal Implements, Weapons, Tools and Regalia, Collection of Frederick and Claire Mebel, New York 1984, ill. 34