Ashanti Linguist's Staff Depicting Wild Dog

Low-slung grey beast with a half-open mouth makes its cautious rounds.

This linguist’s staff depicting wild dog is Ashanti, from Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is carved & painted wood. The Okyeame, or linguist, spoke for Ashanti chiefs, who traditionally never addressed their people directly, and generally recast a chief's words as proverbs meant to instruct, inform and entertain. Long-bodied four-legged animal in worn greyish brown, with a pointed muzzle, small ears and an open mouth showing a hint of teeth. Flecks of red dot its rectangular base, and the paint is scuffed along its back. It is 13 inches wide, 4.25 deep and 65 high.

Not fierce exactly, just mildly suspicious of the photographer.