Dance staff "oshe shango" ·  Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3033368

Description

wood, brown patina, traces of black and red paint, spool-shaped handle, crowned by a standing male figure with high towering coiffure and double axe symbol on top, two goats as accompanying figures, drilled pupils, the facial features rubbed off, handwritten collection number backside “1680”, slightly dam., missing parts at the back of the base, cracks, paint rubbed off;
such dance staffs were used likewise by men and women during “shango” celebrations. Their characteristic feature is the double axe symbol. “Shango” is associated with fertilizing rain, he is said to be truth-loving and should punish liars and thieves.

The object Dance staff “oshe shango” with the object ID 3033368 was last part of the auction 70th tribal art auction at September 8, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 325.

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