Zulu Wood Knobkierrie or Club, Based

A tall, plain, polished stick with a fat button on the end. Understatement, Zulu style.

Zulu makers of South Africa carved this knobkierrie, or club, in wood in the 20th century. Knobkieries are commonly carried as walking sticks, weapons and signs of status. A long, straight shaft carries a flattened mushroom-shaped head, with the wood a deep chestnut brown and burnished smooth. A faint grain shows along the shaft. The piece is mounted on a black base for display.

About 23 inches tall. It leans in the room like it has somewhere to be.