Ashanti Linguist's Staff Depicting Two Hunters with Felled Animal, Based

Dark green pole holds two tiny green figures side by side at the top.

This linguist’s staff depicting two hunters with felled animal is Ashanti, from Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is carved & painted wood. Common finial motifs include a leopard holding a porcupine, said to praise a ruler's keen insight, and a rooster and hen, which refer to a chief's decisions and the wisdom of his elders. Long green shaft with fine pale diagonal stripes and a thin yellow band, topped by a little dark platform where two green figures stand close together. The slim pole rises from a plain black square plate. It is 7.25 inches wide, 6.75 deep and 64.5 high.

Two tiny companions, and a very long way to climb.