Yoruba staff

Yoruba staff "Asen", southwestern Nigeria, 20th century.
Ritual iron topped with a bird.
Good quality.
Measurements: 71 cm height.

The Asen memorial canes in wrought iron were created for the ancestors and served as a link between the living and the dead.

The Yoruba handicraft production is perfectly organized in a sort of guilds of artisans, in the manner of medieval guilds, where the qualities, competences, prices and other aspects of the common life of the guild are determined. This is important because it shows us a certain organization in terms of motifs and styles, taking into account the workshops that exist and the knowledge that is transmitted from masters to apprentices.