Ashanti Linguist's Staff Depicting Parrot, Based

Slim dark pole rises to a small grey bird with a drop of red.

This linguist’s staff depicting parrot is Ashanti, from Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is carved & painted wood. A linguist's staff is a carved wooden work of regalia with a detachable finial, sometimes compared to a king's scepter, though its form was influenced by European canes. Very long slender shaft in dark tones, fading to blue lower down, ending in a small cup-like tray where a little grey bird perches. A touch of red hangs below its beak. A square metal base keeps it upright. It is 9 inches wide, 5 deep and 59 high.

Tall, thin, and entirely devoted to its tiny passenger.