This is antique African dance wand was recently purchased from a private collection.  It is from the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria and is hand carved of a lightweight wood painted with Rickett's Blue or Laundry blue coloring.  It depicts the Mother Goddess of lightning and thunder and was used in religious ceremonies. She has a pointed coiffure and is kneeling with her arms at her sides. There is a small hole in the handle for attaching charms or fetishes.

 

She measures 10 1/2" tall.

Condition: This piece is old and shows a lot of wear and use. The paint is worn especially on the hair and there is a lot of wear on the wood.

We purchased the collection of late 19th and early 20th century Nigerian artifacts collected between approx. 1950-70. There are over 50 pieces with a focus on ceremonial, ritual and spiritual tools and also a collection of West African currency manilla bracelets. Many are rare museum quality pieces including Ifa Divination tools, cowrie shrines and Santeria fetishes and Eshu figures.

Be sure to check my listings for the other pieces from the same collection. All the pieces have been privately held for the last 60+ years by the original collectors and are offered here for sale for the first time.

Provenance will be provided to the winning buyer if requested