# Is there a specific name for this kind of ornate staff used in costumes?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-name-for-this-kind-of-ornate-staff-used-in-costumes/753805>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 3, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-name-for-this-kind-of-ornate-staff-used-in-costumes/753805 "2016-05-03T20:12:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-name-for-this-kind-of-ornate-staff-used-in-costumes/753805/1 "2016-05-03T20:12:07Z")

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You see them a lot in Shakespearean plays and Restoration costume. They’re shoulder length or higher ceremonial staffs, often with a gold or ornate top- basically like a walking stick but 5 feet long or more.

[Example](https://www.brown.edu/academics/theatre-arts-performance-studies/sites/brown.edu.academics.theatre-arts-performance-studies/files/images/_B176794.jpg)

[Example](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Louis_XIV_of_France.jpg) (this is a little shorter than I had in mind, but I think it counts)

[Cartoon version](http://static.zerochan.net/MAGI%3A.The.Labyrinth.of.Magic.full.1838908.jpg)

They’re more bling than practical and not necessarily scepters or wands (though they can be). I associate them a lot with court officials such as butlers and masters of ceremony.

Is there a general name for this type of ornate staff other than just ornate staff?

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-name-for-this-kind-of-ornate-staff-used-in-costumes/753805/2 "2016-05-03T20:24:41Z")

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That’s a [staff of office](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staff_of_office) which may have specific names depending on which position carries it. A royal scepter is a variation of the concept.

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**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-name-for-this-kind-of-ornate-staff-used-in-costumes/753805/3 "2016-05-03T20:26:41Z")

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Baton or [mace](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mace_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives), maybe?

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**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-name-for-this-kind-of-ornate-staff-used-in-costumes/753805/4 "2016-05-03T20:31:11Z")

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> [@jnglmassiv](#):
>
> Baton or [mace](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mace_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives), maybe?

A [ceremonial mace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace) is a kind of staff of office, as is a [tipstaff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipstaff).

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**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-name-for-this-kind-of-ornate-staff-used-in-costumes/753805/5 "2016-05-03T22:35:05Z")

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> [@Atamasama](#):
>
> That’s a [staff of office](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staff_of_office) which may have specific names depending on which position carries it. A royal scepter is a variation of the concept.

Thanks!