Staff Item Number: 3041/3 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Staff made of thick, stiff strands of dried grass, wrapped with raffia in an open weave to make up the handle. From the bottom protrudes a tuft of raffia, wrapped with a band of woven white fabric and grey plastic twine. Two circular patches of raffia are attached close to the base, topped with cowrie shells arranged in a flower motif. The top of the staff is covered in unbleached cotton, edged with two kinds of braided synthetic banding. Attached to the cotton are three small gourd rattles, also wrapped in open raffia weaving, each with a single cowrie shell and plastic bead decoration. Three lines of cowrie shells are glued to the cotton between the gourds.
History Of Use
The xaxará is Omulu Obaluayê’s sceptre and is the part of the costume that signals his identity. In performances it is used to sweep away negative energies, diseases and impurities from homes and people.
Cultural Context
religious; ceremonial
Narrative
This item is part of a set, acquired from the O Mundo dos Orixás shop, Madureira Market, in Rio de Janeiro.
Item History
- Made in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during 2013
- Collected by Nuno Porto during November 2013
- Owned by Mundo dos Orixas before November 22, 2013
- Received from Mundo dos Orixas (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Acquisitions Budget (Funding source) on November 22, 2013
What
- Name
- Staff
- Identification Number
- 3041/3
- Type of Item
- staff
- Material
- grass, gourd fruit, palm leaf, cotton fibre, synthetic fibre, cowrie shell, plastic and adhesive
- Overall
- height 49.0 cm, width 19.5 cm, depth 13.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Brazilian
- Field Collector
- Nuno Porto
- Previous Owner
- Mundo dos Orixas
- Received from
- Mundo dos Orixas (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Acquisitions Budget (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
When
- Creation Date
- during 2013
- Collection Date
- during November 2013
- Ownership Date
- before November 22, 2013
- Acquisition Date
- on November 22, 2013
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 3041/0003