Lot: 259

96th Auction

Ceremonial staff "opa orisa oko"

Nigeria, Yoruba

Provenance Size Starting price / estimated price
L: 59.8 inch This object is not available anymore.

metal, wood, glass beads,
These sacred staffs are dedicated to the agricultural deity "oko". They are referred to as the "staff" or "walking stick" of the deity.

They were made exclusively by the blacksmiths of Irawo, as only they had the secret knowledge necessary to create these sacred emblems.

When not in use, they were kept in precious beaded sheaths "ewu" and placed at shrines.


Drewal, Henry John & John Pemberton, Yoruba, New York 1989, p. 169, ill. 187