This is a Black Cherry staff with a matching hand-turned cherry burl sphere that is 5-1/4" in diameter. The burl was a dead, hard specimen with a large open fissure which is visible in the one picture. The burl is mounted with the empty void down. The dead burl is riddled with borer tracks and beautiful wild grain. The ball is "seated" into a precise gain that was carved into the roots that encircle it. It is secured with two concealed stainless steel screws and bedded in epoxy. The staff (overall) is 6' tall and it is somewhat awkward with the crazy curves and the weight at the top. If you find it too clumsy you could obviously cut it shorter. The staff itself ranges in diameter from 1-1/4" to about 2" and it weighs 7#1ozs in total. It ships in a large 72" x 9" x 9" box, so be forewarned that shipping distances can be outrageous. It has been finished in three coats of a durable hybrid water/oil floor polyurethane.