Dance staff "oshe shango" ·  Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3036160

Description

wood, blackish brown patina, encrusted with earthy pigment, the double axe symbol carved with big eyes, the shaft with nose and mouth, abrasion of paint, fine cracks, base;
“shango” staffs are held during processions and dances in honour of the thunder god. When not in use they are kept in large wooden or calabash bowls in the deity’s shrines, together with the thunderstones “shango” supposedly flings down from the sky.

The object Dance staff “oshe shango” with the object ID 3036160 was last part of the auction 76th tribal art auction at March 22, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 481 achieved a sales price of EUR 600.

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Comparing literature

Witte, Hans, A Closer Look, Berg en Dal 2004, p. 26