Dignitary staff ·  D. R. Congo, Chokwe · ID: 3038302

Description

wood, slightly shiny brown patina, round staff, finial carved with a “cihongo” mask face, torso defined as rectangles with incised and finely carved geometrical patterns, min. dam., fine crack (back of the head), slight traces of abrasion, base;
the male spirit “cihongo” symbolizes strength and abundance. In former times the masks were exclusively worn by the chief or one of his sons and were responsible for criminal justice and social control.

The object Dignitary staff with the object ID 3038302 was last part of the auction 79th Tribal Art Auction at March 21, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 398.

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Comparing literature

Bastin, Marie-Louise, La sculpture Tshokwe, Gossau 1982, p. 190, ill. 109