Ashanti Linguist's Staff Depicting Seated Woman

Woman with a ringed neck sits composed, holding something square on her lap.

This linguist’s staff depicting seated woman is Ashanti, from Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is carved & painted wood. Without a written language of their own, the Ashanti handed history and sayings down by word of mouth, and the article counts over 3,600 proverbs covering nearly every human situation. Seated female figure with wide, round-lidded eyes and a lined collar, hands gripping a small rectangular object on her knees. A carved shape rises behind her back, and the dark grey surface is smoothed and slightly shiny. It is 4.5 inches wide, 4.5 deep and 61 high.

A steady gaze that outlasts any amount of fidgeting.