Sceptre
Roughly carved in softwood, a sceptre in the form of a woman kneeling in an act of supplication carrying a pot of water on her head. This wasn’t produced for domestic use but as a trade item in 19th century Kongo.
A Kongo chief’s sceptre/ staff, possibly intended for a chief associated with missionaries, although the Roman Catholic church had important influence on the Kongo nobility during the early contact period.
The Kongo chief’s staff (mvwala) was an instrument of memory and communication. Chief’s powers derive from their mediation between the mirrored worlds of the living and the dead, which, when proper relations are maintained allows healthy cohesion of the clan. Whoever holds such a position must therefore be of exemplary character.
A Kongo chief’s sceptre/ staff, possibly intended for a chief associated with missionaries, although the Roman Catholic church had important influence on the Kongo nobility during the early contact period.
The Kongo chief’s staff (mvwala) was an instrument of memory and communication. Chief’s powers derive from their mediation between the mirrored worlds of the living and the dead, which, when proper relations are maintained allows healthy cohesion of the clan. Whoever holds such a position must therefore be of exemplary character.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- E1409
- Collection Class
- Religion and magic
- Collection Area Region
- Central Africa
- Material
- wood | | | |
- Common Name
- sceptre
- Simple Name
- sceptre
- Inscription Transcription
- diamond-shaped motifs on woman’s body - possibly scarification markings
- Production Town
- Production Country
- Angola
- Production Person Initials
- Production Person Surname
- Production Year Low
- Production Year High
- 1874
