Burkinabe Wood Whistle or Flute

Fourteen inches of staff, with a swollen top like a bottle.

This whistle or flute comes from Burkina Faso, West Africa, and was carved in wood in the 20th century. Wooden pipes of this kind are commonly used for calls, signals and ceremonial occasions. A narrow, straight shaft carries a rounded, bulbous upper section with a hollow mouth, marked with fine speckled texture. A raised ring sits partway down. The wood is warm brown with reddish tones and darker spots, and it ends in a small footing set in a black stand.

About fourteen inches tall. Tall, lean, and happy in a corner.