The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 28, 2024

Bird Standard

Bird Standard

early to mid-1900s
Location: not on view

Description

An eagle depicted in flight originally surmounting a long staff, the bird standard is offered to the winner of a hoeing contest between young men. The competition is not only meant to promote social cohesion and solidarity, it also serves to encourage fertility. Honoring the endurance of a victorious farmer, such a bird standard is also used as a display sculpture during the funeral of a former champion or a member of his courtyard or family unit.
  • ?-1974
    Katherine C. White (aka Katherine Merkel, Katherine Reswick)
    1974-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH by gift
  • CMA 1975: "Year in Review 1974," CMA Bulletin LXII (March, 1975), p. 97, no. 19
    CMA 1968: "African Tribal Images: The Katherine White Reswick Collection," cat. no. 24, repr.
  • {{cite web|title=Bird Standard|url=false|author=|year=early to mid-1900s|access-date=28 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1974.204