The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of May 21, 2025
Staff
c. 1950s
Overall: 117 x 14 x 10 cm (46 1/16 x 5 1/2 x 3 15/16 in.)
Gift of Arthur Olson 2007.186
Location: not on view
Description
The bird on the top of the staff has been interpreted as a hawk by one Yoruba diviner. The hawk's power, speed, and tenacity are metaphors for the abilities of the diviner as he confronts the various forces operating in the Yoruba universe in order to guide his clients to lives of fulfillment.- {{cite web|title=Staff|url=false|author=|year=c. 1950s |access-date=21 May 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2007.186