Dignitary staff

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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.

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Comparing literature

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

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