Forged iron 15 ½” height with a central bird terminal above 12 radial spokes with “star burst” terminals. Some current information identifies these as birds while the information at the time we purchased it at Christies, London, was that they represented witches. At that time, William Fagg, the greatest authority on Yoruba culture and art was a consultant to Christies. Possibly both are true. These staffs were used to bring the divine power of Osanyin to the herbalists (witch doctors) and were placed outside dwellings while the herbalist administered to the patient inside. Heavily rusted with forging imperfections as always encountered. On base mount.
