Bambara Standing Male with Staff

He leans on his staff. It is the only thing hurrying him.

Bambara metalworkers of Mali, West Africa, cast this standing male figure in bronze in the 20th century. Small bronzes of this kind are commonly linked to personal charms and shrine use, though specifics vary. The figure holds a long staff in one hand and a small object against the hip with the other. The head is tall, with a long nose and a drawn face. The limbs are thin, and the brown metal has darkened at the face and chest.

About six inches tall. A lean figure for a narrow shelf.