Ashanti Linguist's Staff Depicting Bird Holding Fruit

Brown parrot leans down from its perch to inspect the view.

This linguist’s staff depicting bird holding fruit is Ashanti, from Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is carved & painted wood. The Okyeame, or linguist, spoke for Ashanti chiefs, who traditionally never addressed their people directly, and generally recast a chief's words as proverbs meant to instruct, inform and entertain. Parrot with a heavy dark curved beak and a pink-red patch at the cheek, head bent low. Tail feathers are brushed with red, and incised wing lines show in soft light brown. Its grey legs grip a rough golden cap. It is 3.25 inches wide, 7.75 deep and 62 high.

Pensive, a bit dusty, and plainly smarter than the photographer.