Zaramo Wood Ritual Staff

A tiny figure stands on top of a very long pole, with pointed ears and a patient air.

This ritual staff is Zaramo, from Tanzania, East Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is wood. Zaramo carved staffs are generally topped with a human figure and are often linked to elders and authority, though uses vary. A slim, standing figure with prominent ears and a hint of a navel is carved at the top. Below it, a short collar is cut with a geometric band, followed by a long, smooth shaft. Incised rings and a woven pattern circle the upper section. A black metal base holds it upright. It is 1.75 inches wide and deep and 25 high.

All that height, and the figure has barely moved.