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Staff for Eshu
Yoruba
early 20th century
Wood, metal, leather, cowries, coins, gourd, indigo
H. 63 cm
TC 45

Eshu, the trickster god is often represented with a long phallic hairstyle. Although generally thought of as male, here Eshu is female, carrying a baby rendered in abstract form on its back. Eshu's hair extends snake-like, culminating as the head of an antelope. The blue dyed cowrie shells and coins draping the body represent wealth.

Provenance:
Pace Gallery, New York, 1993