Prestige staff by the "Baboon master", late 19th century ·  South Africa, Tsonga · ID: 3042405

Description

wood, beautiful shiny reddish brown patina, accents in black paint, standing male figure with elongated upper part of the body, thin arms carved in flat relief, carved with headring, beard and loincloth, abrasion of paint (left arm);
the headring symbolized age and status among the Tsonga while among Zulu-speaking groups it was a sign of marriage.

The object Prestige staff by the “Baboon master”, late 19th century with the object ID 3042405 was last part of the auction 86th Tribal Art Auction at May 27, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 518 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,500.

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Comparing literature

Conru, Kevin (ed.), The Art of Southeast Africa, Milan 2002, p. 99, ill. 42 g.

Publications

AHDRC: 0142323