Additional information
| Primary Materials | |
|---|---|
| Regions | |
| Ethnic Groups |
Yoruba Opa Osanyin
According to literature, Osanyin typically feature a large central bird surrounded by a ring of 16 smaller birds or abstract bird-like forms — many in my experience do not. This unquestionably old and genuine Opa Osanyin has about 20 masterfully formed smaller birds surrounding a central creature which has four legs as well as wings. This suggests to me that what we know about Osanyin staffs is at best incomplete. The central element is clearly not a bird per se so much as a potent spiritual force embodied in a bird-like form capable of observing all from aloft. This a large and exquisite example of a type of Yoruba ritual object rarely if ever seen in today in Yoruba Land.
30″
