Dance staff "eshu" · Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3035448
Swiss Private Collection
Description
wood, lusterless blackish brown patina, kneeling male figure with horn-like projecting “eshu” lobe, in each hand holding a calabash, rich scarification marks on the face, slightly dam. (lobe), missing parts through insect caused damage, continuous crack (left hand side), paint rubbed off, socle;
the figure probably had a female counterpart to which it was attached by a long strap. It was worn around the neck by female devotees of “eshu”. When not in use, such figures were hung upside down on the wall in an “eshu” shrine.
The object Dance staff “eshu” with the object ID 3035448 was last part of the auction 74th tribal art auction at September 7, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 91 achieved a sales price of EUR 250.
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