A Tsonga or Zulu Prestige Staff Dignity Staff Tsonga / Zulu, South Africa Ohne Sockel / without base Wood. H 134 cm. Provenance: Gérald Minkoff (1937-2009) and Muriel Olesen (1948-2020), Geneva. High-ranking dignitaries, e.g. regional princes, village chiefs or tribal elders - have a rich repertoire of visible symbols of office. These insignia often included elaborately carved staffs of office, which were often passed on as inheritance. The artistically crafted signs of descent, rank, religious affiliation, power and distinction accompany the owners as personal property and are presented publicly on the occasion of performances. In addition to their primary function, the staffs are used in many different ways and their symbolism is complex. Particularly valuable ones are often carefully decorated and sometimes crowned with figures. As extensions of the hand and arm, they are used, for example, as a support, as a protective instrument, for poking, prodding and pushing, for waving or generally to give signs. Furthermore, in ritual use on various occasions, they are also embodiments of the presence of the ancestors. In some places, a dignitary will also swear an oath on them when taking office. ----------------------------------------------------- Gérald Minkoff and Muriel Olesen Muriel Minkoff-Olesen (1948- 2020) completed her training at the School of Design in Geneva. Gérald Minkoff (1937-2009) was a trained anthropologist and biologist. Both achieved fame as artists and from their meeting in 1967, the emblematic couple of contemporary art were inseparable. The travel-loving Olesen-Minkoff duo explored life like curious nomads, roaming the globe from Africa to Asia, Oceania, America and Patagonia. As artists and experienced collectors of contemporary art, they understandably had a keen sensitivity to the aesthetics and concepts of non-European art. The couple's Geneva apartment, perhaps their most beautiful joint work, thus became a place where the works of close friends such as Daniel Spoerri, Arman and Man Ray, as well as their own photographs, lived together with almost a thousand objects from Africa, Oceania, Asia and South America. CHF 100 / 200 Weight in grams: 466 Condition: The condition of this lot (wear, signs of use, tears, any other detractions and the signs of age, etc. The condition of this lot (wear, tears, possible other impairments and signs of age, if applicable) can be seen in the photos we have uploaded for your documentation. Please do not hesitate to contact Hammer Auctions with any questions regarding this lot ([email protected]). The statements regarding the condition of the items made for the convenience of interested parties are opinions only and should not be treated as statements of fact. Hammer Auctions accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. In the rare event that the item does not match the description in the catalog, Hammer Auctions is here to help. Buyers may return the lot for a full refund provided Hammer Auctions has been notified within 5 days of receipt of the lot.

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The place of performance is Basel and the courts of Basel Stadt have jurisdiction. HAMMER AUKTIONEN may, however, bring legal action before any other competent court.

African Ethnograhic Art from Gérald & Muriel MINKOFF, Galerie Walu and others Swiss Private Collections.

All items are guaranteed to be as described or your MONEY BACK. 

A "Confirmation of Provenance" and a "Right to Dispose" as well as all mentioned certificates will accompany each artwork. 

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Hammer Auktionen