Staff "yo domolo" · Mali, Dogon · ID: 3041089
Anonymous seller (2009)
Gerhard de Vos, Dormagen, Germany
Hans Reinmöller, Ratingen, Germany
Description
wood, brown patina, remains of pigments, in form of a stylized animal head, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, base;
such staffs are emblems of the society of “yona” or “ritual thieves”. The principal activity of the society seems to occur at the funeral of one of its members, when the “yona” all stalk the village, stealing and killing as many chickens, sheep and goats as they can, to be sacrificed and eaten at the funeral ceremony.
The object Staff “yo domolo” with the object ID 3041089 was last part of the auction 84th Tribal Art Auction at November 5, 2016 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 150 achieved a sales price of EUR 450.
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Comparing literature
Ezra, Kate, Art of the Dogon, New York 1988, p. 94, ill. 45
Publications
Heinemans, Harrie, "The Pleasure of Collecting African Art. The Harrie Heinemans Collection", Eindhoven: Heinemans, 1986:23, ill. 27
Exhibition
Berg en Dal, The Netherlands: "The Pleasure of Collecting African Art. The Harrie Heinemans Collection", Afrika Museum, 21 September-30 November 1986