Mossi Wood Whistle or Flute

Diamond-shaped open frame sprouting from a flat wedge of a head.

This carved wood whistle or flute from the Mossi is Mossi, from Burkina Faso, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. The Mossi people of Burkina Faso have a long history as farmers and rulers, and their carving traditions include masks, figures and everyday objects. Warm brown carved form with a flat angular block at one end and a pair of straight bars forming a diamond-shaped opening. The far end is a rounded knob. The surface is smooth and polished with softly rubbed edges. It is 3.5 inches wide, 0.75 deep and 5 high.

All angles, no apologies, and a hole in the middle.