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Staff of Office
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
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.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineStaff of Office, early to mid-1800s. Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Luba. Wood and iron; overall: 170 x 13.3 cm (66 15/16 x 5 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund, 2004.85
