Ashanti Linguist's Staff Depicting Bird on Stool

Black crow with a white collar perches on a gold-topped block, beak aimed forward.

This linguist’s staff depicting bird on stool is Ashanti, from Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is carved & painted wood. Many stool designs depict Ashanti proverbs, of which the language has more than 3,600, and the meaning of a proverb sometimes remains open to interpretation and discussion among the people. Glossy black bird with a bold white patch around the neck and a pale, round eye, tail extended in a long taper. Its thin legs grip a small rectangular golden cap above a deep red base. It is 3.5 inches wide, 7 deep and 62.5 high.

Sharp suit, white collar, and a confident stare.