Staff of Office
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CC0
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277 × 893 px · WebP
Suggested credit
Staff of Office (early to mid-1800s). John L. Severance Fund Rights: CC0. https://clevelandart.org/art/2004.85

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From the museum record

Sanctified by a ritual specialist and enhanced with medicinal substances, the staff possessed supernatural qualities and was endowed with healing power. Luba staffs are among the most important regalia of Luba kings. The metal point alludes to the kingdom's stability and durability. Each staff has its own distinctive iconography to reflect regional styles. As Chief Msidi (former owner of this staff) ruled over the Yeke kingdom (and not the Luba kingdom), it begs the question of how he acquired this symbol of another realm's power.

Lupin’s visual index

A dark bronze Japanese fan stick features intricate sculpted figures and a delicate, elongated handle.

Machine-assisted description · useful for discovery, not scholarship.
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