A Chokwe (?) Staff

Dignity rod Chokwe (?), DR Congo ohne Sockel / without base Wood, bronze, upholstered nails. L 78 cm. Provenance: Helmut (1931-2021) and Marianne Zimmer, Zurich. Prestigious staff of a dignitary. High-ranking dignitaries, e.g. regional princes, village chiefs or tribal elders - have a rich repertoire of visible symbols of office. These insignia often include elaborately carved staffs of office, which were sometimes inherited as heirlooms within the royal line. Their uses are varied and the symbolism complex. They serve, for example, simply as a prop, as a protective instrument, for poking, prodding and shoving, for waving and waving off, or generally for making signs. In addition, they are also metaphorical extensions of the hand and emphasize the presence of ancestors in conversations. They clarify the ancestry of the owners and are presented on the occasion of public appearances. In some places, the oath is sworn on them during the inauguration of dignitaries. CHF 100 / 200 EUR 100 / 200