4167 – African Yoruba Wand

Physical description:

A sceptre-like wand, made of a light wood, with the top carved in the shape of a head with two faces, and with a forked headdress which the auction catalogue describes as representing axe blades. The faces have an impressive stern beauty. There are traces of white pigment around the eyes (just inside the lids) of one of the faces.

Museum classification:

African Magic / Magical Tools

Size:

540 x 150 x 120

Information:

A Yoruba Oshe Shango - a wand used in dances honouring the deity Shango.

From Nigeria. Probably 19th century.

Provenance: Roger Todd Collection, London.

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Wood

Copyright ownership:

MWM

A Yoruba Oshe Shango - a wand used in dances honouring the deity Shango.

From Nigeria. Probably 19th century.

Provenance: Roger Todd Collection, London.

4165 – African Divination Board or Tray

A rouond wooden tray or board, hand carved, with a plain centre and elaborately carved rim. A carved face extends from the rim into the plain central area. The rim is carved with knot patterns, triangles and squares, and also with two stylised birds and, above the face, a lizard or (more likely?) crocodile.

4166 – African Divination Board or Tray

A large circular wooden tray or board, made of a rather beautiful dark wood, with a plain central area and an elaborately carved rim. At the top centre of the rim there is a stylised carved face with arms on either side. The carvings also include two snakes twisted into knot-like shapes, a human figure in pose that seems to suggest dancing and chanting, and a humanoid figure emerging from a pattern of zig-zags that may be intended to suggest water.

3993 – Wand

Elegant tapering wand made from reddish wood, and inset with a crescent moon and cross symbol in gold.