id: 159696 accession number: 1996.403 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1996.403 updated: 2023-05-16 11:14:38.937000 Pair of Ritual Staffs (ẹdan Ògbóni), possibly 1800s. Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, Yorùbá-style maker. Copper alloy and iron; overall: 22 cm (8 11/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Drs. James, Gladys, Jay, Jeffrey, and Jamie Strain 1996.403 title: Pair of Ritual Staffs (ẹdan Ògbóni) title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: possibly 1800s creation date earliest: 1800 creation date latest: 1899 current location: 108C Akan & Yoruba creditline: Gift of Drs. James, Gladys, Jay, Jeffrey, and Jamie Strain copyright: --- culture: Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, Yorùbá-style maker technique: Copper alloy and iron department: African Art collection: African Art type: Sculpture find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Overall: 22 cm (8 11/16 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS --- PROVENANCE Drs. James and Gladys Strain, Riverdale, NY, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art date: ?–1996 footnotes: citations: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH date: 1996– footnotes: citations: --- fun fact: Imagine how this would look when its owner wore it; the chain would go around the back of the neck and the figures would rest on their chest. digital description: wall description: The chain connecting these two figures allows them to be worn in public by a member of the Ògbóni or Òṣùgbó association as authority emblems. The male on the right gives the association’s typical salute by clasping his left fist on the right one, while the female on the left holds her breasts as a sign of welcome and generosity. The use of copper alloy and iron expresses Ògbóni/Òṣùgbó's concerns with longevity and durability. --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1996.403/1996.403_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1996.403/1996.403_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1996.403/1996.403_full.tif