Large ritual staff "oshe shango" ·  Nigeria, Yoruba, Ekiti · ID: 3047005

Description

wood, pigments, glass beads, cowry shells,
Possibly a work of Bandele (cf. Carroll, 1967, p. 90 ff), the son of the master carver Areogun of Osi (1880-1954). Bandele was taught by Osamuko, a former apprentice of Areogun.

This ritual staff is unusual, not only because of its size, but also because it is carved with a male/female pair of figures, instead of a (mostly female) single figure. The massive double axe “edun ara” is carved on both sides with a face representing “shango”.

The object Large ritual staff “oshe shango” with the object ID 3047005 was last part of the auction 95th Tribal Art Auction at October 24, 2020 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 219.

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Comparing literature

Carroll, Kevin, Yoruba Religious Carving, London, Dublin, Melbourne 1967, p. 90 ff.