Staff figure "tauwa" ·  Nigeria, Chamba · ID: 3040139

Description

wood, greyish brown patina, headdress with projecting horns, drilled ear holes for attachment of ornament, originally rising from iron spike (for plugging into the ground), slightly dam., missing parts (left forearm), abrasion of paint, rep. (left horn), base;
staff figures “tau-wandoa” (male) and “tau-kendoa” (female) are protective figures, mainly used against snake poison but also used during harvest ceremonies. They were kept in small houses called “wula tauwa”, where they were stuck into the bottom of the ground.

The object Staff figure “tauwa” with the object ID 3040139 was part of the auction 82nd Tribal Art Auction on February 27, 2016. The object with the lot number 375 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,400 with an asking price of EUR 900.

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