Ceremonial staff of iron, decorated with bird finial, leopard figures and multiple bells for use by Yoruba Opa Osanyin: West Africa, Nigeria, Edo State, Benin
[Register] CEREMONIAL STAFF, of iron. The shaft is straight, and is surmounted by a crane-like bird figure. Strips of wrought iron variously shaped spring outwards and upwards from their welded junction with the shaft to form a cresset-shaped ornament around the bird. A snake climbs the upper part of the shaft, as if striving to reach the bird. Two rings, each of six drooping bell-shaped ornaments, encircle the shaft: each of the bells is pierced, as if for the attachment of further ornament. Two conventional animal figures are welded to the shaft, to serve as handles for holding the staff upright. Short spiral strips are also coiled round the shaft. All the ornament is in wrought iron. ["Kano, Northern Nigeria" deleted and substituted by] Benin, S. Nigeria. Height 5 ft. 7 1/2 in. Note 1: Ceremonial Staff (Osun Nigiogio), for the cult of Osun; Research Comment, Brit. Mus., Apr. 1964. Note 2: Opa Oshun - staff of Oshun (goddess of medicine) used by a witch doctor at his sessions, Yoruba, Midwestern State; Researcher comment, March 1974. [1st card filed under Northern Nigeria, Miscellaneous: as above without the corrections or notes, but with "OPA OSANYIN" added after STAFF, and "Yoruba, probably from Mid-Western State, Benin" added at the end]. [2nd card filed under Southern Nigeria, Benin, Ironwork & Brasswork: CEREMONIAL STAFF, wrought iron; S. Nigeria, Benin, Cult of Osun (corrected to "Oshun"); (goddess of Medicine, Midwestern State)].