Baule artist
Côte d'Ivoire

Flywhisk with elephant on handle
Gold leaf, wood, horse tail, fabric, and fiber cord

Among the Baule, fly whisks made of horsetails nailed to gold-covered wood handles became a most important symbol of power. They are for display only and belong to a family's treasury. The smaller central flywhisk is of Ghanaian origin and is held in the left hands of chiefs when they sit in state. They can also be used as dance implements.