Two dignitary staffs ·  D. R. Congo, Bakongo · ID: 3036606

Description

wood, light brown patina, one staff carved with four claws closed around a bowl, the other one with the head of a dog (?) with bare teeth, slightly dam., minor missing part and fissure (end of one of the staffs), metal base;
the king is sacred and the emblems of power participate in his sacredness. They have the shape of objects of common use, but they have been sacralized by a religious dignitary. They then become potent symbols of power and the seat of ancestor spirits who support the King’s authority.

The object Two dignitary staffs with the object ID 3036606 was last part of the auction 76th tribal art auction at March 22, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 539.

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