Rare South African Tsonga / Zulu Carved Ebony Prestige Staff

Price on request

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Object Description

A Rare South African Tsonga / Zulu Carved Ebony Prestige Staff Depicting an Important Elder or Leader wearing a Head-Ring ‘Isicoco’ his waistband neck-ring and eyes inlaid with brass studs his hands carved to his sides one holding a knobkerrie resting seated on a pillar his mouth open to convey speech
Late 19th – Early 20th Century

Size: 108cm long – 42½ ins long

Object History

Provenance:
Ex Australian Private collection
Ex Kevin Conru

Object Literature

It was common practice for the chiefs among the Tsonga speaking groups at the end of the 19th century to commission long staffs surmounted by male heads wearing head-rings as they were associated with the values of wisdom, age and maturity rather than just marital status.
The Zulu elder’s ‘Isicoco’ or head-ring consisted of a fibre or sinew circle into which the wearer’s own hair was woven and then covered with a mixture of gum, charcoal and oil.

Object Details

Dealer Opening Times

By appointment only.

Dealer Contact

Telephone
+44 (0)7768 236921
Mobile
+44 (0)7768 236921 / +32 470 64 46 51
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Dealer Location

Suite 744
2 Old Brompton Road
London
SW7 3DQ (by appointment)

Exhibition address: (June and December, contact for details)
Cromwell Place
4 Cromwell Place
London
SW7 2JE

Rue Ernest Allard, 32
Brussels
Sablon
1000
Belgium (by appointment)

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