West Africa, Nigeria, Mumuye peoples, ca. first half of the 20th century CE. A forged-iron rain-making wand comprised of several serpentine rods accentuated with twisted grooves until just before the flattened, diamond-shaped heads. The bottoms of each rod fuse together to form a tapering conical handle, and the lower terminal spirals until it reaches a narrow point so shamans could insert them into the ends of lengthy wooden pole if desired. Mumuye shamans utilize rain-making wands because they believe their slithering forms to mimic flashes of lightning or the serpentine movements of snakes. Shamans dig small holes and place the ends of the wands in the hole where they symbolically petition the gods for rain by channeling the life-force of the earth. Size: 2.6" W x 22.3" H (6.6 cm x 56.6 cm); 23" H (58.4 cm) on included custom stand.
Provenance: Mark Clayton collection, Long Beach, California, USA; Mr. Clayton is a noted African art collector who recently had Nigerian bronze objects from his collection featured in an exhibition at the UCLA Fowler Museum entitled "Summoning the Ancestors" (September 2018 - March 2019).
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#146707
Condition
Slight bending to overall form of some rods and diamond-shaped terminals, with light encrustations, and fine oxidation commensurate with age, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits throughout.