Dignitary staff

Description

wood, dark brown patina, surmounted by a human head, decorated with metal tags, min. dam., small missing parts, metal socle;
the Mbundus (Ovimbundu) homeland is centered on the Benguela Plateau, bordering to the east on Chokwe land. Their art works are heavily influenced by these neighbours. Masks are not known but their sculptures are mainly known by their pipes and staffs with female heads or figures which depict “nana yakoma”, the guardian of the holy fire - sacred objects of the old Ovimbundu chiefs.