Beaded fans, footrests, staffs and flywhisks, are
the property and privilege of Yoruba kings
(Obas). Whatever the king wears, whatever the
king holds, must be worthy of his rank.
Therefore an object such as this lovely flywhisk is
elevated above the ordinary by its artistry and by
its association with the king. The main staff is
composed of alternating red, black, gold and
white bands, with one of turquoise at the base
above the leather handle. Two "flying" tassels on
either side extend from the upper portion. The
conical shape of the ends of the tassels dangling
with strings of multi-colored beads resembles
the Oba's crown. Crowning the top of the staff is
a stylish bird, done mainly in black with feet of
green and blue and a tail blended with red and
white. Birds are associated with the spiritual
power of woman and the magic of witches, both
of which the king respects and controls. Like
royal scepters this flywhisk possesses an inner
"authority" in its flamboyant array of colors. It
utilizes the property of beads to transmit light
through matter as a symbol of the king's reputed
ability to cross boundaries between the real and
supernatural worlds.
- (PF.4999)
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