Two dance staffs "eshu" ·  Nigéria, Yoruba · ID: 3034807

Description

wood, blackish brown patina, carved with a female resp. male kneeling figure with “eshu” plait, adorned with necklaces, strings of cowrie snails, mirrors, spoons and combs, min. dam., cracks, slight traces of abrasion metal socle;
“eshu” staffs in the shape of a pair of male and female are worn around the neck by female devotees. The female sculptures frequently show kneeling women holding their breasts. They were identified as devotees of “eshu” showing a typical sacrificial posture.