Title staff "iwana ogun" · Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3038809
Adrian Schlag, Brussels, Belgium
Lempertz, Brussels, 25. April 2009, lot 68
Description
iron, brass, crowned by a sitting male figure, holding a pipe in his left hand, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, base
In Yoruba religion, “ogun” is a primordial “orisha” in Yoruba Land. In some traditions, he is said to have cleared a path for the other “orisha” to enter Earth, using a metal ax.
“Ogun” is a very popular and feared god among the Yoruba pantheon of gods, known for both his creativity alongside his destructive nature.
“Ogun” altars and ceremonies display and use iron objects. Followers of “ogun” wear chains of iron implements; “ogun” festivals feature the display of knives, blacksmith implements, and other iron implements from daily life.
The object Title staff “iwana ogun” with the object ID 3038809 was last part of the auction 80th Tribal Art Auction at June 27, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 371 achieved a sales price of EUR 800.
Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about African art.
Comparing literature
Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture, München 2009, p. 305