This chieftain's staff from eastern/southern Africa, carved into a long, slender form, has been beautifully decorated with finely etched scenes of animals. Animals found on the African continent, such as camels, ostriches and giraffes, are depicted following each other and spiralling towards the top of the staff. As the form of the staff begins to flatten, the animals are depicted on a plain dotted with trees. Here, we see scenes such as a rhino eating a thorn tree, and a crocodile snapping at a leaping gazelle. The surface of the staff is smooth with some markings covering parts of the animals on the wooden surface.
Estimated Period: 1950's
Ex Private Collection, UK
Length: 99cm
Width: 4cm
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