Southern African Status Staffs

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Left: Zulu "chief staff", 137 cm. A nice staff with good use and patina. Circa 1900.

Provenance: British private collection

Custom brass base by Romain Laforêt.

 

Price: 900 euros enquiry

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Center: Zulu "Shaka envoy staff", 143 cm. This type of staff is described in the book "Zulu Treasures" p. 57 as possibly made for Shaka "who would have used them as a signature of status and to substanciate the identity of his messengers or envoys". While south african museums have two similar examples making that connexion with Shaka, the style is not immediately Zulu. So there is a possibility these staffs were imported from further north, in the Zambezi or even southern Tanzania. 

Before 1900.

Provenance: Belgium private collection

Custom base.

 

Price: 1300 euros enquiry

 

Right: Superb Mpondo "chief staff", 147 cm. Circa 1900.

Provenance: British private collection

Custom brass base by Romain Laforêt.

 

Price: 1900 euros enquiry