Staff / Artist Unknown, African, Ngbaka peoples Democratic Republiic of the Congo
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 2001/2.36
- Title
- Staff
- Artist Nationality
- Congolese
- Medium and Support
- wood
- Object Creation Date
- 1930-1970
- Object Creation Place
- Africa (continent)
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- Africa (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the (nation)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Margaret H. and Albert J. Coudron
- Inscription
- FX91495 near bottom in white paint
- Dimensions
- 77 cm x 4 cm x 3.5 cm (30 5/16 in. x 1 9/16 in. x 1 3/8 in.)
- Primary Object Classification
- Costume and Costume Accessory
- Primary Object Type
- staff
- Secondary Object Classification
- Ritual Objects
- Secondary Object Type
- carving
- Physical Description
- Elaborately carved staff with angular forms along the shaft and topped with a figurine with a rounded head, heart-shaped face and two stylized arms resting on the stomach. A large Z-shaped handle is carved in the middle of the shaft, with a series of cubes and conical forms above and beneath it.
- Subject Matter
- The attribution of artworks to a single ethnic group is difficult in a region as diverse as that surrounding the Ubangi River, bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. Like many similar regions in Africa, the Ubangi River area has for centuries been characterized by "open borders" that allow for the easy movement of people and objects. The carved figure topping this stick represents the general characteristics of a regional Ubangi style. Among the Ngbaka, as well as neighboring peoples, tall sticks were used to strike the ground during initiation rituals: the noise would warn people that the male initiates were approaching. Female dancers would also brandish carved, notched sticks called "kangala" on the occasion of the initiation of girls.
- Secondary Keywords
- ceremonies
- cultural ceremonies
- equipment
- equipment by context
- equipment for personal use
- events
- objects
- objects we use
- people and culture
- rites of passage
- sculpture
- sculpture by subject type
- statues
- tools and equipment
- visual works
- visual works by medium or technique
- walking sticks
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 696 x 1492
- File Size
- 106 KB
- Record
- 2001/2.36
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2001-sl-2.36/2001_2.36.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:2001-SL-2.36:2001_2.36.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Staff; Artist Unknown, African, Ngbaka peoples Democratic Republiic of the Congo." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2001-sl-2.36/2001_2.36.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 25, 2024.
