2-741-978 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Staff of Office, early to mid-1800s. The Luba kingdom flourished from about the 17th century to the late 19th century. The best-known Luba object types relate to ideas of kingship and the kingdom's ceremonial and ritual life. Staffs are among the most important Luba regalia. During the investiture ritual, the new ruler holds the staff when he swears his oath of office. Aside from being a symbol of rank and high office, a staff also serves as a historical document and archive that can be "read" like a sculptural map, memorializing important events, places, and people. The rendering of women points to their political and religious significance in history and society; although Luba rulers were always male, their mothers, wives, and sisters acted as advisors and diplomats behind the scenes. On this particular staff, the Janus heads and female figures probably represent one of the many Luba tutelary spirit pairs. The metal point alludes to the kingdom's stability and durability. Despite the fact that Luba staffs encompass many different substyles, this is undoubtedly one of the most impressive examples of Luba art. Elaborately carves staffs similar to this one are quite rare. In the United States, there are only a small number of staffs in private collections and museums.