Additional information
| Primary Materials | |
|---|---|
| Materials | |
| Regions | |
| Ethnic Groups |
Old Congolese Stool
The form of this lovely stool is similar to published examples (African Seats, etc.) identified as Lega. An even more similar stool, also identified as Lega, has been in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History since 1954. While the AMNH stool lacks the zigzag contours of the legs as well as the carved edge details and floral incising seen here, the pyro-work, patination and scale are very close. It’s possible that the stool is from a neighboring tribe such as the Wanandi or that the general form is broadly regional. Numerous tribes call Congo’s eastern highlands home including the Mbuti Pygmies. Although the pygmies neither carve nor own substantial furniture the seat decoration calls to mind the calligraphy of their bark cloth and face painting. For decades this stool decorated a Belgian home. It was collected around mid century, before Congo’s independence. 8.5″ high x 13″ diameter.
