LOBI Two Bronze Hairpins/Prestige Staffs with Zoomorphic Finials (cataloged as pendant figures; 12/14 cm; missing from Excel)

Note: visual analysis of the image reveals two elongated bronze pins or hairpin-like objects with highly decorative, zoomorphic/geometric heads, rather than typical figural pendants. The analysis below reflects the physical reality of the image. Two long, tapered, spike-like bronze implements (likely hairpins or prestige staffs). They feature elaborate, openwork finials depicting stylized, profile animal heads (resembling antelope or chameleons) with sweeping horns and geometric decoration. Both have a dark, oxidized patina.

1. Aesthetic Style and Regional Traits

These long, tapered bronzes function similarly to elaborate hairpins or miniature prestige staffs, common across West Africa (including the Lobi and neighboring Senufo/Gurunsi groups). The artist has elevated a functional item of personal grooming or display into a complex, wearable sculpture. The finials utilize an openwork design to reduce weight while maximizing the visual impact of the stylized, sweeping animal heads and horns. The hairpin-as-prestige-object format unites adornment with iconographic display in a single compact form.

2. Ritual Function and Talismanic Animal Imagery

The animal imagery at the top of these implements is highly deliberate. Whether representing a swift antelope or the ancient, clairvoyant chameleon, the zoomorphic finial imbues the object with specific spiritual characteristics. When worn in the hair of an elite woman or carried by a diviner, these items served a dual purpose: they were highly visible markers of economic wealth (bronze) and acted as active, protective amulets against malevolent forces. The zoomorphic finial signaled the wearer's specific spiritual affiliation while the bronze medium signaled their economic standing.

3. Physical Patina and Age Verification

The physical evidence of their use is clear. The long, tapered spikes of both objects are significantly smoother and slightly lighter in color than the complex finials, indicating they were repeatedly pushed through dense hair or fabric. The intricate, openwork animal heads retain a darker, uncleaned oxidation and minor verdigris, authenticating their age and active functional history in the first half of the 20th century.