West Africa, Nigeria, Yoruba peoples, ca. mid 20th century CE. A dark wood staff in the form of a human figure kneeling and holding up an elaborate bow-shaped headdress. The figure has classically Yoruban features and scarification marks, and is decorated with the almost neon-blue pigment that much Yoruban wooden artwork shares. A staff like this is called an Ose Shango staff, carried and danced with by members of the Shango cult. Shango is the Yoruba deity of thunder and lightning; the woman carved on the staff is meant to represent a worshipper of Shango. Size: 5.9" W x 19.75" H (15 cm x 50.2 cm)

Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection

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#132170

Light wear on surface commensurate with age. Small losses from edges and encrustation in lower profile areas.