VINTAGE AFRICAN CHIEF'S STOOL EMBOSSED METAL ASHANTI GHANA W. AFRICA 20TH C.

Description: Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE GJPaw Auctions is pleased to offer a stunning African Chief’s Stool, from the Ashanti, Ghana. Although other African nations consider the stool an important spiritual object and symbol of leadership, few attribute it with such sacred significance and aesthetic devotion as the Ashanti. Not only are they functional objects, but also integral to Ashanti spiritual and religious customs. The Ashanti believed a person's soul inhabited his or her stool. When the stools were not in use, they were tilted onto their sides so that other spirits – especially evil ones – could not take up residence. From birth to death, stools mark important life events: one of the earliest gifts an Ashanti boy receives from his father is a stool; when an Ashanti girl reaches puberty she is presented with a stool; men gift stools to their brides-to-be as engagement promises; and when a person dies, his or her stool is placed in a shrine and becomes an object of ancestor veneration. Carvers were bestowed a great honor when they were commissioned to craft stools for chiefs, priests and other high-ranking members of Ashanti society. Not only does the carving of a stool require exceptional skill and imagination, but also an understanding of the Ashanti moral codes and their unique visual language. Like all other forms of Ashanti art, stools feature meaningful forms and geometric designs that convey messages about the status and importance of the owner. Many designs incorporated visual representations of Ashanti proverbs. In the Ashanti language, there are more than 3,600 proverbs dealing with every aspect of tribal life. These proverbs are considered the repository of Ashanti wisdom and were often expressed by skilled craftsmen in their sculpture. This extraordinary example is made from carved wood, and superbly crafted embossed metal. It measures inches in width by 16 inches in depth by 26 inches in height (83.8 cm by 40.6 by 66.0 cm). It shows wear commensurate with use, but generally is in very good condition. It dates to the early 20th century. A fabulous collector’s item, coming from an important Midwest collection of African art, it is guaranteed authentic and would make a fine addition to any collection of African art in general. GJPaw Auctions has been in the Art business for over 25 years and is now expanding its operation to eBay. Our goal is to bring the same experience and excitement of collecting that we have been delivering in-person to collectors across the globe at Primitive in Chicago. Every object we sell online has been carefully hand-selected with special attention to detail, quality, and significance. We ship worldwide. Add GJPaw to Sellers you Follow and please take a moment to look at our other auction items. F1300-011

Price: 14950 USD

Location: Chicago, Illinois

End Time: 2024-04-27T18:53:50.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD