This wooden staff adorned with a figure featuring the traits of Songye sculpture. It takes the form of a long, flat blade, exhibiting some age splits and wear.
There is also an intentional notch towards the bottom of the scepter for purposes unknown.
Staffs and scepters are traditional ceremonial objects believed to possess spiritual power and were typically reserved for chiefs
and individuals of high social rank. They served as symbols of political
authority, affirming the holder’s right to rule over the village and protect
its people.
The top of the staff features a finely carved anthropomorphic
(human-like) head, symbolizing ancestral spirits and the wisdom required
to govern. Through this representation, the object was transformed from a
simple wooden staff into a sacred bridge between the physical and
spiritual worlds.
Length: 26 3/16".
The head is 1 ½" wide and 2" deep.
