Mossi Wood Whistle or Flute, Based

Reddish-brown, glossy, and shaped like a tuning fork gone sculptural.

This whistle or flute was carved by Mossi artists of Burkina Faso, West Africa, in wood in the 20th century. Instruments like this are often associated with music, signals and ritual in the Sahel. A slender shaft rises to a split crest with openings cut through it, while two small projections jut out along the lower stem. The dark wood has a reddish-brown, polished sheen. It is displayed on a black metal stand with a small square foot.

About eleven inches tall. Looks like a key to something you have not yet found.