The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 25, 2024
Pair of Ritual Staffs (ẹdan Ògbóni)
possibly 1800s
Overall: 22 cm (8 11/16 in.)
Location: 108C Akan & Yoruba
Did You Know?
Imagine how this would look when its owner wore it; the chain would go around the back of the neck and the figures would rest on their chest.Description
The chain connecting these two figures allows them to be worn in public by a member of the Ògbóni or Òṣùgbó association as authority emblems. The male on the right gives the association’s typical salute by clasping his left fist on the right one, while the female on the left holds her breasts as a sign of welcome and generosity. The use of copper alloy and iron expresses Ògbóni/Òṣùgbó's concerns with longevity and durability.- ?–1996Drs. James and Gladys Strain, Riverdale, NY, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art1996–The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- {{cite web|title=Pair of Ritual Staffs (ẹdan Ògbóni)|url=false|author=|year=possibly 1800s|access-date=25 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1996.403