Female caryatid stool "kihona" ·  R. D. Congo, Zela · ID: 3042055

Description

heavy wood, dark brown patina, rising from thin planks the figure seems to hover above the disc-shaped base, burled scarification marks from inserted wooden plugs (two missing), square hole in the disc-shaped base, slightly dam. (right earhole), rep. (breakages: seat, left lower arm);
a caryatid stool made by the same artist was called up at Sotheby’s New York (lot 182) in 1997.
The Zela have their homeland in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo and are strongly influenced by the Luba cultural sphere. Stools of both ethnic groups likewise do function as thrones, and are sat upon sometimes. But mainly they are embodiment of royal authority and most important insignia of kingship. Their sanctity was so great and their value so high that they were usually kept away in a secret location.

Publications

AHDRC: 0032364 (comparable object)