Caryatid stool ·  D. R. Congo, Songye · ID: 3034617

Description

light brown wood, partly encrusted brown patina, remains of pigments, wearing a loincloth and necklaces, the mouth stuffed with animal skin, rep. (cracks at the seat and base), missing parts through insect caused damage (base), traces of usage;
the use of such stools was reserved for special occacions, such as birth, initiation, marriage, or a case of death. They were reserved for a political and spiritual “upper class”, such as chiefs, priests, medicine men, healers and dignitaries. They mainly fullfilled representative and/or ritual functions, but were donated to kings or merited dignitaries as well. They were not destined to be shown in public.

The object Caryatid stool with the object ID 3034617 was last part of the auction 72nd tribal art auction at March 9, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 467.

Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about African art.

Comparing literature

Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 165, ill. 21