The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 21, 2025

Prestige Staff

1800s–1900s

Africa, Southern Africa, South Africa, Tsonga-style or Zulu-style maker

Wood
Overall: 116.8 cm (46 in.)
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 2010.205
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Tsonga and Zulu staffs all have strong symbolic associations and value. They visually connect the identity of their owners with that of their ancestors and with that of the community to which they belong.

Description

The primary use of long staffs like this was purely practical; they served as walking companions when their pastoralist-owners covered long distances accompanying their cattle in search of new pastures. The tall height of this staff indicates the elevated status or special function of the man who owned it. Carved from one piece of wood, its spherical knob finial and the geometric designs incorporated into its shaft decoration—consisting of spiraling segments and chain links—demonstrate its maker’s superior skills.
  • early 1990s
    Colette Ghysels, Brussels, BE
    2005
    Joel Cooner, Dallas, TX
    2010
    (Jacaranda Tribal, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    2010–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Petridis, Constatine. "The Art of Daily Life: Portable Objects from Southeast Africa. " Tribal Art. (Summer 2011). Pg. 69, Fig. 5.
  • The Art of Daily Life: Portable Objects From Southeast Africa. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (April 17, 2011-February 26, 2012).
    Cleveland Museum of Art, (4/16/11-2/26/12); "The Art of Daily Life: Portable Objects from Southeast Africa" cat. no. 51
  • {{cite web|title=Prestige Staff|url=false|author=|year=1800s–1900s|access-date=21 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2010.205