Details

Title

Staff

Artist/Maker

Fon Artist, Kingdom of Dahomey, Republic of Benin

Date

Late nineteenth–early twentieth century

Medium

Wood and brass

Dimensions

Contact the museum for more information

Credit

Fred and Rita Richman Collection

Accession #

2002.286

On View

Currently not on view

Scepters such as this one, from the Kingdom of Dahomey in the Republic of Benin, were created from war axes and symbolized the authority of their owners. The messenger of the king would carry a concealed staff on his shoulder and uncover it only in the presence of the recipient of the message in order to complete the dispatch. A horse head—a symbol of political power—is mounted to the top of this staff, while a small animal silhouette climbs up the neck.

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