Lobi Hair Pick with Lizards, Based

Two lizards, one above the other, both heading for the same destination.

Lobi people of Burkina Faso, West Africa, made this hair pick with lizards in brass in the 20th century. Brass hair picks with animal tops are commonly seen across the region and used for dressing the hair. Two lizards with spiraling tails and incised bodies are stacked along a triangular frame above a collar, and a long flat shaft tapers to a point. The brass is a warm gold, smooth and lightly marked. The piece stands on a black base.

About 8.5 inches tall. Gleaming, symmetrical, and quietly amusing.