A fine and rare Attie ivory staff finial, Ivory Coast

carved from elephant ivory (loxodonta africana), the staff finial with a male figure wearing colonial clothing standing behind a naked seated female with hands on her shoulders; varied golden patina with residue.

John J. Klejman, New York
Acquired from the above in February 1974

Very good condition overall.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Visonà (in Barbier 1993, vol. I: pp. 374-376) notes: "staffs are used as emblems of authority by leaders and wealthy men throughout the lagoons region [...]. Their images [...] refer to the wealth and political power of the leader [...]. A small corpus of eight ivory staff finials attributed to the Akye, including three from the Barbier-Mueller collection, has been located in European collections [...]

"The display of regalia such as staffs and gold ornaments does not only allow a man to present images vaunting his qualities as a leader, thus assisting him in the difficult task of governing a contentious and independent group of people. His ownership of beautiful objects made from precious materials also impresses his community because wealth, and access to heirlooms, suggest to lagunaires that the leader has been favored by the ancestors and spirits [...]. Riches, leadership and spiritual power are all linked in lagoons philosophy and art objects are involved in a man's struggle for metaphysical as well as political dominance."

For a closely related finial in the Fowler Museum, Los Angeles, displaying very similar iconography to the Rosenthal finial see Ravenhill (in Ross 1992: 121, figs. 6-10): "Among the Akye (Attié) and other Lagoon peoples of Côte d'Ivoire, staff finials were often carved from ivory. The depiction of prestige European dress elements on these finials does not necessarily indicate that a foreigner is represented."