Large ritual staff "oshe shango" · Nigeria, Yoruba, Ekiti · ID: 3047005
not available anymore
Provenance
Gert Stoll, Berchtesgaden, GermanySize
H: 74,5 cm
H: 29.3 inch
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”.
Comparing literature
Carroll, Kevin, Yoruba Religious Carving, London, Dublin, Melbourne 1967, p. 90 ff.