Wooden staff with top in shape of human head with hair and eyes of brass studs · The Making African Connections Digital Archive

Title

Wooden staff with top in shape of human head with hair and eyes of brass studs

Creator

Creator Unrecorded

Subject

Staff

Description

Club or staff made of dark wood, blackened. The top of the staff is a carved human head. The face is simply but finely carved with a smooth rounded forehead, rectangular nose and horizontal slit mouth. The eyes are carved in an almond shape, with the addition of brass studs for pupils. There six small holes in a uniform pattern on each cheek. The ears are formed of two small carved semi circles where the face meets the hair. The hair is formed in a loop from the top of the head to where the shoulders would be, so that there is no hair on the back of the head or neck. The hair is decorated with finely carved lines and the addition of brass studs. Below the head the staff is plainly and roughly carved.