Dance Baston Oshe Shango
Yoruba · Nigeria
Reference: BST-34
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- Height
- 31 cm
- Material
- Wood and pigments.
It is a cane or axe of ceremony used during worship to the god of Thunder Shango, fourth Yoruba king who was deified, and in the…
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Full original description
It is a cane or axe of ceremony used during worship to the god of Thunder Shango, fourth Yoruba king who was deified, and in the ceremonies of possession the Orisa (intermediate divinity) is embodied in the initiate, who handles the axe, during the trance. And in this way, Shango transmits the power of lightning to his descendants. The priests and priestesses who participate in these ceremonies are clothed in the red robe of Sangho, colour of lightning and blood. The handle represents a priestess whose headdress is the stone that produces the lightning, cleft in the sky, called “stone of fire”.
Dark patina. Part of the head and handle have suffered the effect of the xylophages.
Further technical information
- Attributed period
- First third of the century XX or older
Details transcribed from the original catalogue; they are not a recent physical inspection.
Country on the map
Nigeria. The country associated with the catalog is shown, not the current location of the piece.
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Attributions, dates and accounts come from the preserved catalogue. They do not constitute certification of authenticity or provenance. An object’s presence on this website does not mean it is available for sale.
