Club ... help needed !
 

Hello , a friend has sent these pictures of a wooden club like artefact . It is approx 65 cm long . It has a somewhat oriental looking head at the top , spiralling down from the back of the head is a snake . I wonder if anyone can help with the likely ethnic origin of this piece please ?

Very unusual. I don't think it is African for sure. Possibly from India? Has it been painted oŕ stained. The pictures might tell more in daylight without the shine or is that how it is?

It seems to have a naturally shiny patina , dont think its stained , certainly not painted .

If I say Eurasian dones not really help. Possibly European . One thing is the ears definitely not African.

Without daylight pics it looks lacquered in some way.

Looks kinda touristy to me, does not give the appearance of age. But it's just a feel no facts to support it.

Has a certain Asian look to the head: Could the 'snake' be a braided queue?

It's an actual snake head on top - kind of looks like a Chinese Filipino to me (Chinese presence in the PI for 1000 years).

I agree with Battara and Wayne. Looks Asian to me also. Possibly SE Asian, including mainland SE Asia, with a strong Chinese influence. The snake could be a python.

thanks everyone for your input , its much appreciated.