Mossi Wood Slingshot, Burkina Faso, Based

A slim, pointed head over a long torso, standing on a smooth round arch.

This carved wooden slingshot on a base is Mossi, from Burkina Faso, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is carved wood. Slingshots in West Africa were generally used to scare birds from crops or to hunt small animals, and boys often carried them. A carved dark figure on a black stand, with a tall pointed head, a ridged neck and a slender body. The legs form a deep, tight arch, and a thin wire loop projects from one side of the torso. It is 2.5 inches wide, 1.25 deep and 9.4 high.

Seen from the side, it stands patiently as a lamp post.