Ashanti Linguist's Staff Depicting a Leopard with an Animal in Mouth, Based

Twisted red pole holds a green beast with an open mouth at the top.

This linguist’s staff depicting a leopard with an animal in mouth is Ashanti, from Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is carved & painted wood. The Ashanti considered gold an embodiment of sunlight and life's vital force, and the kingdom was once known as the Kingdom of Gold, though most staffs are painted as gold disappeared. Narrow shaft with a spiral twist, painted deep red with dark and pale bands near the foot. A small green animal with a gaping mouth crouches on a flat capping disc at the top. A black square plate supports the whole. It is 7.5 inches wide, 6 deep and 60 high.

A small growl, delivered from a very respectable height.