This staff figure from the Bété people of the Guibéroua region in western Côte d'Ivoire is a characteristic example of Bété sculpture in the form of a ceremonial staff (*canne*). Such objects served less as freestanding cult figures than as staffs denoting status and ritual significance, carried by prominent individuals, elders, or ritual specialists during public ceremonies. Their sculptural design combines a representative function with a spiritual protective quality, making the staff a visible symbol of social authority. Incl stand. The figure rises from a flat base, its exceptionally slender verticality creating an impressive presence. A small head forms the upper terminus; it wears a hood-like headdress that ends in a flat, circular top and tapers to a point behind the finely carved ears. The face features a slightly open mouth revealing two small rows of teeth, as well as open eyes that lend the figure an alert, almost conversational air. Particularly distinctive is the knob-like ornamentation that mirrors the eyebrows below the eyes, creating the impression of a stylized mask. Additional relief decorations on the bridge of the nose and the temples evoke traditional scarification patterns, underscoring the figure's cultural identity. The unusually long, rod-like neck transitions into a highly abstracted body consisting solely of a bent leg with a fully modeled foot. This radical reduction draws attention to the expressive head and the staff's symbolic function. The glossy patina and fine traces of wear attest to repeated ceremonial use, lending the object its historical authenticity. Selected Bibliography Himmelheber, Hans: *Die Kunst der Elfenbeinküste*. Munich, 1964. Fischer, Eberhard; Homberger, Lorenz: The art of the Ivory Coast. Zurich, 1979. Vandenhoute, Claude: Masques and traditional societies of Côte d'Ivoire. Paris, 1975. Perrois, Louis: Arts de Côte d'Ivoire. Paris, 1993. Cole, Herbert M.: Icons: Ideals and Power in the Art of Africa. Washington, D.C., 1989. Informant Bakari Bouaflé M/A/Z/1/7/1/5/1/ The seller guarantees and can prove that the object was obtained legally. The seller was informed by Catawiki that they had to provide the documentation required by the laws and regulations in their country of residence. The seller guarantees and is entitled to sell/export this object. The seller will provide all provenance information known about the object to the buyer. The seller ensures that any necessary permits are/will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer immediately about any delays in obtaining such permits.