Ethiopian Prayer Staff with Finial

A round silver knob on a bamboo stem, simple and a bit severe.

Ethiopian craftsmen made this prayer staff with finial in bamboo and silver in the 20th century. Staffs of this kind are commonly associated with Ethiopian Orthodox clergy, who use them for support and as a sign of office. The shaft is a long, dark reddish bamboo, with natural joints along its length, finished at the foot with a small cap. At the top a slender silver collar holds a rounded finial. The knob has the dull, worn gleam of metal that has been handled.

About five and a half feet tall. Minimal, vertical, and a fine contrast to a soft chair.