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| Maker(s): | Unknown | | Culture: | Nigerian, Yoruba people
| | Title: | Osanyin, herbalist's staff
| | Type: | Ceremonial
| | Materials: | forged iron
| | Place Made: | Africa; Nigeria
| | Measurements: | overall: 29 3/4" tall
| | Accession Number: | AC 2007.29
| | Credit Line: | Gift of Drs. James and Gladys Strain and Dr. Jamie Strain (Class of 1990)
| | Museum Collection: | Mead Art Museum at Amherst College
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Label Text:
The birds on the staff represent evil forces that cause illness by sapping mental and physical energies from people while they sleep. Working with the healing god Osanyin, the Yoruba herbalist would place images of these spirits, rendered in robust iron, next to ailing patients to exert mastery over the harmful creatures and to promote a return to health.
PR, 2013
Tags:
birds; lines; circles Subjects:
lines (artistic concept); Circle; Birds Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=AC+2007.29 |
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