Dancing staff

Museum number:
5-15217
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21050015217
Alternate number:
5 (original number)
Accession number:
Acc.4428
Description:
dancing staff; reddish brown encrusted wood; standing female w/ shell bead band at abdomen, iron ringlet at neck and left ankle, red and white bead strand below ringlet; carved w/ double-bladed axe motif above head, axe has two engraved eyes (?) on front; l. 71.3 cm.
Donor:
Joan Wescott
Collection place:
Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria
Verbatim coll. place:
Africa; Nigeria; Ogbomosho region; Yoruba
Culture or time period:
Yoruba
Collector:
Joan Wescott
Collection date:
unknown
Materials:
Iron (metal) and Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works)
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Accession date:
July 25, 1989
Context of use:
see pp. 142 ff., esp. #157 in AFRICAN MASTERPIECES FROM MUNICH: THE STAATLICHES MUSEUM FUR VOLKERKUNDE, 1987, Center for African Art, NYC (xerox in acc. env.)
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
length 71.3 centimeters
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 6 titled Dancing staff, accession number 5-15217, described as dancing staff; reddish brown encrusted wood; standing female w/ shell bead band at abdomen, iron ringlet at neck and left ankle, red and white bead strand below ringlet; carved w/ double-bladed axe motif above head, axe has two engraved eyes (?) on front; l. 71.3 cm.Hearst Museum object 2 of 6 titled Dancing staff, accession number 5-15217, described as dancing staff; reddish brown encrusted wood; standing female w/ shell bead band at abdomen, iron ringlet at neck and left ankle, red and white bead strand below ringlet; carved w/ double-bladed axe motif above head, axe has two engraved eyes (?) on front; l. 71.3 cm.Hearst Museum object 3 of 6 titled Dancing staff, accession number 5-15217, described as dancing staff; reddish brown encrusted wood; standing female w/ shell bead band at abdomen, iron ringlet at neck and left ankle, red and white bead strand below ringlet; carved w/ double-bladed axe motif above head, axe has two engraved eyes (?) on front; l. 71.3 cm.Hearst Museum object 4 of 6 titled Dancing staff, accession number 5-15217, described as dancing staff; reddish brown encrusted wood; standing female w/ shell bead band at abdomen, iron ringlet at neck and left ankle, red and white bead strand below ringlet; carved w/ double-bladed axe motif above head, axe has two engraved eyes (?) on front; l. 71.3 cm.Hearst Museum object 5 of 6 titled Dancing staff, accession number 5-15217, described as dancing staff; reddish brown encrusted wood; standing female w/ shell bead band at abdomen, iron ringlet at neck and left ankle, red and white bead strand below ringlet; carved w/ double-bladed axe motif above head, axe has two engraved eyes (?) on front; l. 71.3 cm.Hearst Museum object 6 of 6 titled Dancing staff, accession number 5-15217, described as dancing staff; reddish brown encrusted wood; standing female w/ shell bead band at abdomen, iron ringlet at neck and left ankle, red and white bead strand below ringlet; carved w/ double-bladed axe motif above head, axe has two engraved eyes (?) on front; l. 71.3 cm.
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Dancing staff, accession number 5-15217, described as dancing staff; reddish brown encrusted wood; standing female w/ shell bead band at abdomen, iron ringlet at neck and left ankle, red and white bead strand below ringlet; carved w/ double-bladed axe motif above head, axe has two engraved eyes (?) on front; l. 71.3 cm.

Tools