Sale 214 Lot 456

NIGERIAN YORUBA OSHE SHANGO DANCE WAD Nigeria This dance wand, known as an oshe Shango, is a primary ritual emblem of the Yoruba people of Nigeria, dedicated to Shango, the deity of thunder and lightning. Carved from dark, polished wood, the wand is topped with a prominent double-headed axe motif (ose), which symbolizes Shango's lightning bolts and his dual nature as a balanced yet powerful ruler. The central figure depicts a kneeling female devotee, a posture of respect and supplication, who is further distinguished by intricate facial scarification and a tall, elegant coiffure that merges into the base of the axe. Adorned with a necklace and flanked by smaller figures—including a child and a forest animal—this wand was traditionally carried by priestesses and devotees during energetic public festivals, serving as a conduit for the deity's presence and a symbol of the creative and destructive forces he governs. Height: 24.75 inches
$150-200