Object Details
- Label Text
- Among the Yoruba, iron staffs with birds symbolize communication and control of spiritual powers. While herbalists have staffs with a circle of birds, diviners have a single large bird over bells and medicine containers. This staff also has a rare stylized human figure that may also refer to Ogun, god of iron.
- Description
- Iron divination staff with single bird on top of shaft with conical bells over a stylized human figure holding a bird and a fan atop more conical bells.
- Provenance
- Mona Gavigan, Washington D.C., circa 1990-2014
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Data Source
- National Museum of African Art
- Maker
- Yoruba artist
- Date
- late 19th-mid 20th century
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mona Gavigan
- Medium
- Iron
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 122.6 × 24.1 × 12.1 cm (48 1/4 × 9 1/2 × 4 3/4 in.)
- Type
- Sculpture
