Wooden Staff

This is a carved wooden ceremonial staff; it has a female head carved at one end, resembling a Sowei mask with a segmented neck. The staff is unusually decorated in strings of pink, black, green and white glass beads, and bares traces of blue paint. This was originally part of the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum collection, originally acquired at Stevens Auction Rooms, London, in 1924. It was acquired by the British Museum in 1954. The original Wellcome label reads rare Mendi chief’s staff, covered with beadwork, carved head at top.

Further Information

  • Type: Regalia
  • Object: Wooden Staff
  • Materials: Wood, Glass
  • Culture Group: Mende
  • Dimensions: 510mm [L] x 65mm [W] x 65mm [C]
  • Production Date: Pre 1954
  • Associated Places: Unknown
  • Associated People: Wellcome Historical Medical Museum
  • Museum: British Museum
  • Accession Number: BM:Af.1954.23.1311

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