Burkinabe Leather Whistle or Flute, Based

Tall carved post with crossed arms and a dark red body.

This wood and leather whistle or flute on a base is from Burkina Faso, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. A whistle or flute produces sound when a stream of breath is split across an edge, and the pitch is set by the length and bore of the tube. Slender upright figure with a pointed head, an angular chest with arms folded above, and a long smooth red shaft below. Pale metal patches decorate the upper body, and a bulged foot sits on a black plinth. It is 2 inches wide, 1 deep and 7.5 high.

Arms folded, stance firm, and not taking questions.