Chief's chair, 19th century
Asanteexpand_more
Wood, leather, brassexpand_more
The William Hood Dunwoody Fundexpand_more 90.101
On View in Gallery 250expand_more
The Asante people of Ghana developed a complex “seating culture,” with numerous types of stools and chairs employed in different contexts. A striking seat used by the aristocracy is the decoratively carved folding chair, likely based on early European travelers’ chairs. Its back is carved in a perforated pattern, and the entire surface is covered with brass tacks and metal parts. This chair is unusual because of its rich imagery, showing various birds, a person holding a rifle, a turtle and a coiled snake, a shell and a crocodile chasing a fish, and on the front and back rails, the so-called “wisdom knot,” a symbol of intelligence and unity.
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Details
- Title
- Chief's chair
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 90.101
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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