Oromo Pilgrimage Staff, Wall Mounted

One clean fork and one stubby side twig make a tall dark staff.

This wall mounted pilgrimage staff is Oromo, from Ethiopia, East Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is wood & copper. Combining carved wood with copper fittings is a common approach to making a staff durable, and the metal also adds a bright accent. Nearly black with a slight sheen, the long shaft has a single short knob near the top. It ends in a shallow Y, with small bands marking points where the shaft is bound. It is 12 inches wide, 5 deep and 49.5 high.

The side twig seems to be a proud afterthought.