In Lagoons societies, affluence, leadership, and spiritual power are interrelated. Ownership of remarkable artifacts in luxury materials implies favor from the spiritual ancestral realm. Within the Lagoons region, traditional Attie and Abure leaders were entitled to half the tusks obtained by elephant hunters. As a result, these influential individuals commissioned rare ivory artifacts such as these finely wrought finials for staffs of office displayed as emblems of status at public gatherings. This elegantly appointed male and female couple seated on elaborately carved thronelike chairs is part of a corpus of less than a dozen ivory miniatures created as staff finials by Attie carvers. The male subjects of such prestige imagery may represent their owners and ancestors. The European top hats and umbrellas that crown them were associated with commercial trade and are metaphors of status and wealth. The regal female consort bedecked with gold bead necklaces who shields her partner with a parasol may embody his ideal sexual partner, spirit spouse, or alter ego.