Magic Staff
Massim, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea
Early 20th c
Provenance: Grace Goldberg collection, Harrison, NY, acquired in 1970 from Bobbi Nochimson- Entwistle. By descent to family member.
This staff is topped by a squatting human figure that is surmounted by a serpent on its head. The figure is carved in a stylized fashion, the staff is decorated with curvilinear scrolling designs, creating an overall impression of fluidity and motion. The staff holds great cultural significance for the Massim people, who believe that it possesses powerful magical properties.
In Massim culture, the staff is used by sorcerers to channel their supernatural powers. The human figure on top of the staff is thought to represent the sorcerer and his or her spirit helper, who work together to perform magical feats. The curvilinear scrolling designs that adorn the staff are thought to represent the flow of energy that the sorcerer manipulates through his or her use of the staff.
The Massim people believe that sorcerers possess the ability to bring about both good and evil through their use of magic. They believe that sorcerers can use their powers to heal the sick, protect their communities from harm, and bring about fertility and prosperity. However, they also believe that sorcerers can use their powers for malevolent purposes, such as causing illness or death, or bringing about crop failure and famine.
Length: 45 ¾ in / 116.2 cm
Magic Staff
Massim, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea
Early 20th c
Provenance: Grace Goldberg collection, Harrison, NY, acquired in 1970 from Bobbi Nochimson- Entwistle. By descent to family member
This staff is topped by a squatting human figure that is surmounted by a serpent on its head. The figure is carved in a stylized fashion, the staff is decorated with curvilinear scrolling designs, creating an overall impression of fluidity and motion. The staff holds great cultural significance for the Massim people, who believe that it possesses powerful magical properties.
In Massim culture, the staff is used by sorcerers to channel their supernatural powers. The human figure on top of the staff is thought to represent the sorcerer and his or her spirit helper, who work together to perform magical feats. The curvilinear scrolling designs that adorn the staff are thought to represent the flow of energy that the sorcerer manipulates through his or her use of the staff.
The Massim people believe that sorcerers possess the ability to bring about both good and evil through their use of magic. They believe that sorcerers can use their powers to heal the sick, protect their communities from harm, and bring about fertility and prosperity. However, they also believe that sorcerers can use their powers for malevolent purposes, such as causing illness or death, or bringing about crop failure and famine.
Length: 45 ¾ in / 116.2 cm