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Tribal Staffs

Senufo Staff Sotheby's Provenance
Senufo Staff Sotheby's Provenance

Senufo Staff Sotheby's Provenance

By Senufo

Located in Sharon, CT

A Senufo staff depicting a seated woman. It is important that the quality and authenticity of tribal art should be equal to the quality and authenticity of the modern art it is displ...

Category

Early 20th Century Ivorian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Yoruba Osanyin Staff, c. 1900
Yoruba Osanyin Staff, c. 1900

Yoruba Osanyin Staff, c. 1900

Located in Chicago, IL

To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Steel, Iron

Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900
Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900

Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900

Located in Chicago, IL

To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900
Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900

Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900

Located in Chicago, IL

To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

Early 20th Century Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff
Early 20th Century Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff

Early 20th Century Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff

Located in Chicago, IL

This early 20th-century Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn staff, meticulously crafted from wrought iron, features a prominent central bird surrounded by several stylized avian figures, symbolizing spi...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wrought Iron

Early 20th Century Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff
Early 20th Century Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff

Early 20th Century Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff

Located in Chicago, IL

This early 20th-century Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn staff, meticulously crafted from wrought iron, features a prominent central bird surrounded by several stylized avian figures, symbolizing spi...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wrought Iron

Tabwa Staff with Female Figure
Tabwa Staff with Female Figure

Tabwa Staff with Female Figure

$686Sale Price|30% Off

Tabwa Staff with Female Figure

Located in Chicago, IL

This hand carved 20th century wooden staff, was crafted in the style of the Tabwa people located along the southwestern shores of Lake Tanganyika. The handle is finely decorated with...

Category

20th Century South African Folk Art Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900
Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900

Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900

Located in Chicago, IL

To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

Pair of Ogboni Yoruba Cast Bronze Figurative Staff Tops, Nigeria Africa
Pair of Ogboni Yoruba Cast Bronze Figurative Staff Tops, Nigeria Africa

Pair of Ogboni Yoruba Cast Bronze Figurative Staff Tops, Nigeria Africa

Located in Point Richmond, CA

A matched pair of Ogboni figures with finely modeled heads and abstracted bodies, with iron post at bottom of each. Each face with "x" scarification mark between eyes and elaborate ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Bronze

Edan Staffs for Ogboni Society, Yoruba People People, Nigeria, 20th century
Edan Staffs for Ogboni Society, Yoruba People People, Nigeria, 20th century

Edan Staffs for Ogboni Society, Yoruba People People, Nigeria, 20th century

By Yoruba People

Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Pair of Bronze & Iron Ogboni Society staffs from the Yoruba People, Nigeria, early 20th century. Among the Yoruba, in southwestern Nigeria, there was and still is the Ogboni secret s...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Bronze, Iron

Bembe Bearded Male Figure Bust with Beard Hands on Stomach Staff Top DRC Africa
Bembe Bearded Male Figure Bust with Beard Hands on Stomach Staff Top DRC Africa

Bembe Bearded Male Figure Bust with Beard Hands on Stomach Staff Top DRC Africa

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Striking Bembe bearded male bust figure with hands on sides of projecting stomach and finely carved beard. Stacking square hair style on top of head and projecting element hair on b...

Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Antique Yoruba Devotional Staff with Bird Symbol and Cowrie Embellishment
Antique Yoruba Devotional Staff with Bird Symbol and Cowrie Embellishment

Antique Yoruba Devotional Staff with Bird Symbol and Cowrie Embellishment

Located in Nottingham, GB

Among the Yoruba peoples of Nigeria, ceremonial staffs occupy an important place within religious and social life, serving as visual expressions of authority, devotion, and spiritual...

Category

20th Century Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

West African Lobi Ritual Staff, Burkina Faso, Early 20th Century
West African Lobi Ritual Staff, Burkina Faso, Early 20th Century

West African Lobi Ritual Staff, Burkina Faso, Early 20th Century

Located in Nottingham, GB

Among the Lobi peoples of Burkina Faso and northern Côte d'Ivoire, diviners known as thil-kina occupied an essential role within community life. Acting as intermediaries between the ...

Category

Early 20th Century Tribal Art

Materials

Wood, Leather

A Very Fine Carved Staff by Sikiré Kambiré (1896 - 1963)
A Very Fine Carved Staff by Sikiré Kambiré (1896 - 1963)

A Very Fine Carved Staff by Sikiré Kambiré (1896 - 1963)

Located in London, GB

A Very Fine Carved Staff by Sikiré Kambiré (1896 - 1963) Fine colour and patina Wood Lobi, Burkina Faso Early 20th Century Size: 104cm high - 40¾ ins high Provenance: Ex Priv...

Category

Early 20th Century Burkinabe Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

A Carved Ebony Prestige Staff Depicting an Important Elder or Leader
A Carved Ebony Prestige Staff Depicting an Important Elder or Leader

A Carved Ebony Prestige Staff Depicting an Important Elder or Leader

Located in London, GB

A Carved Ebony Prestige Staff Depicting an Important Elder or Leader wearing a Head-Ring ‘Isicoco’ His waistband neck-ring and eyes inlaid with brass studs, his hands carved to his s...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century South African Tribal Art

Materials

Ebony

An Extremely Fine South African Tsonga Prestige Staff by the ‘Baboon Master'
An Extremely Fine South African Tsonga Prestige Staff by the ‘Baboon Master'

An Extremely Fine South African Tsonga Prestige Staff by the ‘Baboon Master'

Located in London, GB

A Rare and Extremely Fine South African Tsonga Prestige Staff by the ‘Baboon Master’ Depicting a Zulu elder wearing a head-ring Superb silky reddish brown patina Late 19th Century ...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century South African Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

African Carved Female Statue Yoruba Ose Sango Staff
African Carved Female Statue Yoruba Ose Sango Staff

African Carved Female Statue Yoruba Ose Sango Staff

Located in Atlanta, GA

An expressively carved African wood female kneeling figure on staff with a display wood stand circa mid 20th century. The figural sculpture was an Ose Sango staff from Yoruba communi...

Category

20th Century Nigerian Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Set of Four Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staffs, c. 1900
Set of Four Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staffs, c. 1900

Set of Four Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staffs, c. 1900

Located in Chicago, IL

To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, these iron...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Mounted Objects

Materials

Iron

Maori Tribe Chiefs Staff, Elaborate Wood Carving, Early 20th Century
Maori Tribe Chiefs Staff, Elaborate Wood Carving, Early 20th Century

Maori Tribe Chiefs Staff, Elaborate Wood Carving, Early 20th Century

Located in Milwaukee, WI

Chiefs Staff (Elaborate Carving) c 1900-1925 Wooden staffs were used by Maori chiefs and other notables as a physical sign of their status. They were held by chiefs whilst addressin...

Category

Early 20th Century Tribal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

African Gabon/D.R. Congo 20th Century Wood Kota Mahongwe Figural Reliquary Staff
African Gabon/D.R. Congo 20th Century Wood Kota Mahongwe Figural Reliquary Staff

African Gabon/D.R. Congo 20th Century Wood Kota Mahongwe Figural Reliquary Staff

Located in Queens, NY

African Gabon / Democratic Republic of the Congo 20th Century carved wood figural reliquary staff in flattened geometric form features a curved head with inlaid textured copper, 2 co...

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Copper

Recent Sales

Superb African Tribal BaCongo Bakongo Colonial Staff Head
Superb African Tribal BaCongo Bakongo Colonial Staff Head

Superb African Tribal BaCongo Bakongo Colonial Staff Head

Unavailable

H 7.88 in W 1.58 in D 1.97 in

Superb African Tribal BaCongo Bakongo Colonial Staff Head

Located in London, GB

African tribal BaCongo Bakongo colonial staff head A 19th century BaCongo colonial staff or fly whisk head.

Category

Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Early Twentieth-Century Chokwe Title Staff Resembling a Bird, Angola
Early Twentieth-Century Chokwe Title Staff Resembling a Bird, Angola

Early Twentieth-Century Chokwe Title Staff Resembling a Bird, Angola

Located in London, GB

Resembling the upturned beak of a bird, the shape of this early twentieth-century title staff from the Chokwe culture in Angola exhibits a beautiful, simplistic form. A series of not...

Category

Early 20th Century Angolan Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Kirdi Bird Iron Currency Staff Nigeria Early 20th Century West African Tribe Art
Kirdi Bird Iron Currency Staff Nigeria Early 20th Century West African Tribe Art

Kirdi Bird Iron Currency Staff Nigeria Early 20th Century West African Tribe Art

Located in Santa Fe, NM

Forged iron currency object or staff in the form of a stylized fancy crested bird, from the Kirdi people, Nigeria. Added decoration on the surface in the form of fine incised lines. ...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Iron

Dogon Iron Figural Staff, Antique African Tribal Art, Mali, 19th Century
Dogon Iron Figural Staff, Antique African Tribal Art, Mali, 19th Century

Dogon Iron Figural Staff, Antique African Tribal Art, Mali, 19th Century

Located in Bristol, GB

WEST AFRICAN FIGURE Depicting a male figure with wonderful character, possibly relating to fertility and masculinity due to his genitalia. It would have originally been the top ...

Category

Antique 19th Century Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

Ceremonial Staff
Ceremonial Staff

Ceremonial Staff

Sold

H 25 in W 3.5 in D 3.5 in

Ceremonial Staff

Located in New York, NY

A ceremonial chief's staff. Hand-carved dark wood embellished with painted pattern and brass rings and cap. Mounted.

Category

20th Century South African Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Beaded Yoruba Staff
Beaded Yoruba Staff

Beaded Yoruba Staff

Sold

H 78 in W 9 in D 3 in

Beaded Yoruba Staff

Located in Chicago, IL

The Yoruba people reserve the use of glass beads for royalty, priests and priestesses, as well as embellishing ritual and ceremonial objects. Though only kings are allowed to use bea...

Category

Mid-20th Century South African Folk Art Tribal Art

Materials

Metal, Iron

Early 20th Century Yoruba Herbalist Staff 'Osanyin'
Early 20th Century Yoruba Herbalist Staff 'Osanyin'

Early 20th Century Yoruba Herbalist Staff 'Osanyin'

Located in Chicago, IL

An early 20th century Nigerian Yoruba Osanyin wrought iron herbalist's staff with three open platform rings with mounted birds, bells shapes, and one large bird at the top, mounted o...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wrought Iron

Yoruba Edan Ogboni Figural Brass Staffs, 2 Pairs
Yoruba Edan Ogboni Figural Brass Staffs, 2 Pairs

Yoruba Edan Ogboni Figural Brass Staffs, 2 Pairs

Sold

H 11.25 in W 5.25 in D 2.25 in

Yoruba Edan Ogboni Figural Brass Staffs, 2 Pairs

Located in Astoria, NY

Two Pairs of Yoruba Edan Ogboni Figural Brass Staffs, each pair atop a stepped base, together with Segy Gallery documentation.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Brass

Early 20th Century Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff
Early 20th Century Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff

Early 20th Century Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff

Located in Chicago, IL

This early 20th-century Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn staff, meticulously crafted from wrought iron, features a prominent central bird surrounded by several stylized avian figures, symbolizing spi...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wrought Iron

Dogon Figurative Altar Staff from Mali
Dogon Figurative Altar Staff from Mali

Dogon Figurative Altar Staff from Mali

Sold

H 29.5 in W 3.75 in D 3.75 in

Dogon Figurative Altar Staff from Mali

By Dogon Tribe Mali

Located in Palm Springs, CA

A nice mounted figural altar staff from the Dogon tribe of Mali. Mounted in an iron holder on a wood base. The staff is rusted and the wood painted base has some losses. These were a...

Category

Antique 19th Century Malian Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

Bamana Figurative Metal Altar Staff from Mali
Bamana Figurative Metal Altar Staff from Mali

Bamana Figurative Metal Altar Staff from Mali

By Dogon Tribe Mali

Located in Palm Springs, CA

A nice early Bamana figurative metal staff from Mali, with three bells. I assume one is missing as the handle is there but the fourth bell is missing. It is mounted on a wood base an...

Category

Antique 19th Century Malian Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

Dogon Tribe Figurative Metal Altar Staff from Mali
Dogon Tribe Figurative Metal Altar Staff from Mali

Dogon Tribe Figurative Metal Altar Staff from Mali

By Dogon Tribe Mali

Located in Palm Springs, CA

A nice mounted figural altar staff from the Dogon tribe of Mali. Mounted in an iron holder on a wood base. The staff is rusted and the wood painted base has some losses.These were ac...

Category

Antique 19th Century Malian Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

Mounted Ceremonial Nagaland Spear or Staff
Mounted Ceremonial Nagaland Spear or Staff

Mounted Ceremonial Nagaland Spear or Staff

Located in New York, NY

Mounted ceremonial Nagaland spear or staff. Nagaland is a mountainous state in northeast India, bordering Myanmar. Feathers have been added for decoration and spear has been mounted ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Tribal Mounted Objects

Materials

Animal Skin, Wood, Feathers

Maori Tribal "Chief's" Staff or Walking Stick
Maori Tribal "Chief's" Staff or Walking Stick

Maori Tribal "Chief's" Staff or Walking Stick

Located in Hamilton, Ontario

Maori Tribal "Chief's" staff or walking stick.

Category

20th Century New Zealand Tribal Art

Beaded Yoruba Staff
Beaded Yoruba Staff

Beaded Yoruba Staff

Sold

H 75 in W 4 in D 4 in

Beaded Yoruba Staff

Located in Chicago, IL

The Yoruba people reserve the use of glass beads for royalty, priests and priestesses, as well as embellishing ritual and ceremonial objects. Though only kings are allowed to use bea...

Category

Mid-20th Century South African Folk Art Tribal Art

Materials

Metal, Iron

Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff
Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff

Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff

Located in Chicago, IL

A fantastic early 20th century wrought iron Yoruba ?`sanyìn staff with a large bird in the center, said to represent the ?`sanyìn himself, surrounded by four abstract stylized birds....

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Mounted Objects

Materials

Iron

Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff
Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff

Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff

Sold

H 27 in W 13 in D 11 in

Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff

Located in Chicago, IL

A fantastic early 20th century wrought iron Yoruba ?`sanyìn staff with a large bird in the center, said to represent the ?`sanyìn himself, surrounded by several abstract stylized bir...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Mounted Objects

Materials

Iron

19th Century Tribal Mpondo Staff Finial, South Africa
19th Century Tribal Mpondo Staff Finial, South Africa

19th Century Tribal Mpondo Staff Finial, South Africa

Located in New York, NY

This beautiful staff finial embodies the essence of South African woodwork, presenting a composition of perfectly simple, sensitive, understated shapes. The soft features of the face...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century South African Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

African Tribal Fine Rare Zulu Knobkerrie Staff
African Tribal Fine Rare Zulu Knobkerrie Staff

African Tribal Fine Rare Zulu Knobkerrie Staff

Sold

H 33.47 in W 3.94 in D 1.19 in

African Tribal Fine Rare Zulu Knobkerrie Staff

Located in London, GB

African tribal fine rare Zulu Staff knobkerrie  A fine hard wood wire wound staff with dual colored disc head Period 19th century.

Category

Antique 1890s South African Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Lwena staff
Lwena staff

Lwena staff

Sold

H 17.33 in W 1.97 in D 2.37 in

Lwena staff

Located in London, GB

Lwena staff Angola Wood 43cm Provenance: - Michel Koenig, Brussels, 1970s

Category

Early 20th Century African Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Two Zulu Wood Staffs
Two Zulu Wood Staffs

Two Zulu Wood Staffs

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Two zulu wood staffs, sold separately or together.
On left) Dark wood staff, with top ring and carved geometric decoration down sides. Zulu peoples, South Africa, 20th century...

Category

Vintage 1950s South African Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Fine Tsonga Figurative Staff, South Africa
Fine Tsonga Figurative Staff, South Africa

Fine Tsonga Figurative Staff, South Africa

Sold

H 32.29 in W 1.19 in D 1.19 in

Fine Tsonga Figurative Staff, South Africa

Located in London, GB

A fine Tsonga figurative staff South Africa, A typical Tsonga staff in hard wood with carved standing tribal figure with hat and loin cloth Tsonga South Africa Measures: Height 8...

Category

Early 20th Century South African Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Ethiopian Pilgrim staffs, circa 1900 - 1940
Ethiopian Pilgrim staffs, circa 1900 - 1940

Ethiopian Pilgrim staffs, circa 1900 - 1940

Located in San Marino, CA

Ethiopian Pilgrim staffs, each showing a well worn patina and mounted on a custom black steel base.

Since the 12th century, Lalibela, in the Lasta mountains of Norther...

Category

Early 20th Century Ethiopian Tribal Art

African Tribal Art Fine Old Yoruba Shango Staff
African Tribal Art Fine Old Yoruba Shango Staff

African Tribal Art Fine Old Yoruba Shango Staff

Sold

H 11.03 in W 3.94 in D 1.19 in

African Tribal Art Fine Old Yoruba Shango Staff

Located in London, GB

A fine old Yoruba Shango staff, Very finely carved with excellent aged patina, Adorned with numerous beads some of which are ancient trade beads Yoruba Nigeria Period: late 19th ...

Category

Early 20th Century Ivorian Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

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Tribal Staffs For Sale on 1stDibs

An assortment of tribal staffs is available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of iron, metal and steel, all tribal staffs available were constructed with great care. Tribal staffs have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. Many tribal staffs are appealing in their simplicity, but Dogon Tribe and Senufo produced popular tribal staffs that are worth a look.

How Much are Tribal Staffs?

Prices for tribal staffs start at $169 and top out at $6,000 with the average selling for $2,980.

Finding the Right Folk-art for You

Folk art refers to a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Vintage, new and antique folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, portraiture and paintings, carnival art, quilts and duck decoys.

American folk art is frequently valued because of the traditional skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.

During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.

Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of folk art on 1stDibs.