Quatre supports et un piquet de tente ·  Sahara / Sahel, Mali / Niger, Touareg · ID: 3048842

Description

wood, each mounted on base

These poles were used to divide the interior of the tent by means of long mats “éseber” stretched between them. They were elaborately carved, often with openwork patterns, and were considered prestige pieces intended to embellish the tent.

The smaller board-like object with pointed end is probably a tent peg that was stuck into the sand in order to stretch the canvas.