The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of March 29, 2024
Staff of Office (lower segment)
early-mid 1800s
Overall: 170 cm (66 15/16 in.)
John L. Severance Fund 2004.85.b
Location: 001A ArtLens Exhibition
Did You Know?
Besides prestige emblems and symbols of power, these staffs were also historical documents that could be “read” like a sculptural map from top to bottom.Description
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.- ?–1888Chief Msidi (c. 1830–1891), Yeke (Garanzange) Kingdom (present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo), 1888, given to British missionary Frederick Stanley Arnot1888–1914Frederick Stanley Arnot [1858-1914], probably Glasgow, Scotland, 1914, by descent to his son Dr. Arthur B. Arnot.1914–1987Dr. Arthur B. Arnot, New York, NY, 1987, consigned for auction at Sotheby’s.1987(Sotheby’s, Important Tribal Art, New York, NY, Nov. 10, 1987, Lot #79, sold to Philippe and Hélène Leloup for George Feher)1987–1990sGeorge Feher, New York, NY, 1990s, acquired by Morris Pinto?–1996Morris Pinto, New York, NY, 1996, acquired by Philippe and Hélène Leloup1996–2004Philippe and Hélène Leloup, Paris, France, 2004, donated to Marie Victoire Koch2004Marie Victoire Koch, Saint Mandé, France, 2004, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art2004–The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Artlens Exhibition 2019. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer).Art and Power in the Central African Savanna. Menil Collection, Houston, TX (September 26, 2008-January 4, 2009); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 1-May 31, 2009); Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA (June 20-October 11, 2009).
- {{cite web|title=Staff of Office (lower segment)|url=false|author=|year=early-mid 1800s|access-date=29 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2004.85.b