Staff of Office
Unknown Artist
early to mid-1800s
Medium
Wood and iron
Dimensions
{"overall":{"height":1.7,"width":0.133}}
Classification
Sculpture
Department
African Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
John L. Severance Fund
Accession Number
2004.85
About this artwork
Sanctified by a ritual specialist and enhanced with medicinal substances, the staff possessed supernatural qualities and was endowed with healing power. Luba staffs are among the most important regalia of Luba kings. The metal point alludes to the kingdom's stability and durability. Each staff has its own distinctive iconography to reflect regional styles. As Chief Msidi (former owner of this staff) ruled over the Yeke kingdom (and not the Luba kingdom), it begs the question of how he acquired t...