Description

Sanctified by a ritual specialist and enhanced with medicinal substances, the staff possessed supernatural qualities and was endowed with healing power. Luba staffs are among the most important regalia of Luba kings. The metal point alludes to the kingdom's stability and durability. Each staff has its own distinctive iconography to reflect regional styles. As Chief Msidi (former owner of this staff) ruled over the Yeke kingdom (and not the Luba kingdom), it begs the question of how he acquired this symbol of another realm's power.

Provenance

Chief Msidi (c. 1830–1891), Yeke (Garanzange) Kingdom (present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo), 1888, given to British missionary Frederick Stanley Arnot. (?–1888); Frederick Stanley Arnot [1858-1914], probably Glasgow, Scotland, 1914, by descent to his son Dr. Arthur B. Arnot. (1888–1914); Dr. Arthur B. Arnot, New York, NY, 1987, consigned for auction at Sotheby’s. (1914–1987); (Sotheby’s, Important Tribal Art, New York, NY, Nov. 10, 1987, Lot #79, sold to Philippe and Hélène Leloup for George Feher) (1987); George Feher, New York, NY, 1990s, acquired by Morris Pinto (1987–1990s); Morris Pinto, New York, NY, 1996, acquired by Philippe and Hélène Leloup (?–1996); Philippe and Hélène Leloup, Paris, France, 2004, donated to Marie Victoire Koch (1996–2004); Marie Victoire Koch, Saint Mandé, France, 2004, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art (2004); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (2004–)