Wooden staff

This is a wooden staff, carved in two parts that join together. The bottom half has a snake and crocodile carved in relief, and a pointed end for inserting into the top half. The top half has a rattle in the shaft, and ends in a female head, resembling a sowei mask. The mask is surmounted by an Asante-type umbrella. This was originally part of the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum collection, originally acquired at Stevens Auction Rooms, London, in 1925. It was acquired by the British Museum in 1954.

Further Information

• Type: Regalia
• Object: Wooden staff
• Materials: Wood
• Culture Group: Mende
• Dimensions: 940mm [L] x 90mm [W] x 95mm [C] x 920mm [L] x 90mm [W] x 80mm [C]
• Production Date: Pre 1925
• Associated Places: Unknown
• Associated People: Wellcome Historical Medical Museum
• Museum: British Museum
• Accession Number: BM:Af.1954.23.1291

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