While its scale suggests this staff may have been decorative or perhaps even served as a parasol handle, the evidence of use tells another story. The supine figure that crowns the finial shows clear signs of handling. The nose has been worn down from repeated contact with a palm and in the creases of the figure’s body, the patina has darkened, emphasizing the contours of the carving and revealing the intimacy of touch over time. The proportions of the facial features in relation to one another, the angle and shape of the eyes, and the construction of the mouth suggest a Nuu-chah-nulth origin for this figural cane.