Gan Serpent Protector Staff

A snake for a handle and a sunburst for a head.

Gan metalworkers of Burkina Faso, West Africa, cast this staff in bronze in the 20th century. The Gan are known for small bronze pieces made by the lost-wax method, and serpent forms in the region are commonly linked with protection and spiritual power. A shaft winds in a long S-curve and tapers to a point, while the top opens into a ring and boss surrounded by a fan of triangular rays. The metal has darkened to a smoky, uneven patina with lighter highlights on the ridges.

About 10 inches long. Lay it on a desk and it stops being a paperweight and starts being a presence.