An Unusual South East African Carved Wood and Pokerwork Staff Finial
An Unusual South East African Carved Wood and Pokerwork Staff Finial , depicting a seated male chief in a conical hat wearing a necklace . Probably Tsonga peoples , South Africa / Mozambique / Zimbabwe borders . Old dry shiny patina
19 th Century
Size : 18 cm high – 7 ins high
19 th Century
Size : 18 cm high – 7 ins high
It is now thought that the Tsonga migrated to Natal from Southern Mozambique as early as the 1850’s . They were renowned for their wood carving and were soon producing artefacts often for sale to European settlers .
The conical headdress seen on this figure is occasionally carved on Tsonga staffs with male figures , but it is not known whether they are intended to depict unusual hairstyles or colonial hats , as it is only usual for Tsonga married women to have a peaked coiffure denoting their matrimonial status . This figure is seated on a European style chair , and outlined in poker work , he is wearing a chief’s necklace .
The conical headdress seen on this figure is occasionally carved on Tsonga staffs with male figures , but it is not known whether they are intended to depict unusual hairstyles or colonial hats , as it is only usual for Tsonga married women to have a peaked coiffure denoting their matrimonial status . This figure is seated on a European style chair , and outlined in poker work , he is wearing a chief’s necklace .
An Unusual South East African Carved Wood and Pokerwork Staff Finial
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