Osun staff; staff of office (part of); lost-wax cast in brass. Cylindrical shaft decorated on front and back with sinuous snakes in low relief. Surmounted by circular platform with standing figure of Oba wearing beaded regalia: deep coral collar to mouth, beaded cap with tall projection, armlets, crossed baldric, central bead on chest and patterned skirt. Oba holds rattle staff in right proper hand and stone celt in left. Figure flanked by small leopards wearing collars.
This Osun staff is made of brass rather than iron and would probably have belonged to the Oba and been housed on the Osun shrine in the royal palace. The imagery on this staff indicates the Oba's political and spirtiual authority. The rattle staff ('ukhurhe') links him to royal ancestors and the stone celt or thunder axe ('ughavan') indicates his power over life and death.