Dignitary staff ·  D. R. Congo, Bakongo · ID: 3035427

Description

wood, slightly shiny honey brown patina, brass tip, crowned by a fist with its thumb raised, the shaft carved with lizard, scorpion, millipede and two snakes in spiral-shaped arrangement, slightly dam., cracks (hand, shaft);
extremely fine work !
The king is sacred and the emblems of power participate in his sacredness. They have the shape of objects of common use, but they have been sacralized by a religious dignitary and are often superbly decorated as is the case with present staff. They then become potent symbols of power and the seat of ancestor spirits who support the King’s authority.

The object Dignitary staff with the object ID 3035427 was part of the auction 74th tribal art auction on September 7, 2013. The object with the lot number 319 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,600 with an asking price of EUR 2,000.

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Comparing literature

Felix, Marc L. (ed.), Kongo Kingdom Art, China 2003, p. 153, ill.4,13