A carved wooden image of a Boy on top of a Lion, covered in Gold leaf and was once atop a wooden staff.The tradition of Linguist staff are used in a procession of chiefs arriving for a durbar (ceremonial gathering) led by his linguist carrying the gold-encrusted staff of his domain. A linguist is second in royal importance only to the chief. He is the chief’s public voice, as one must often speak through him in order to communicate with the chief.Linguist staffs are rich in symbolism; The image here illustrates the parable, “The boy does not know the lion" an allusion to not be naive in the face of danger. This staff top measures 9.25 inches tall. Provenance: A Private New Jersey Collection.

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