Africa, Cameroon, Bamun, ca. early 20th century CE. An impressive carved wooden chief's stool from the grasslands of Cameroon. Most Bamun visual culture is associated with the important chiefs and kings who displayed their power via fine objects used during significant ceremonies. Stools like this example were amongst the most important prestigious objects. This stool is adorned with a series of eight repeated carved heads, four with petal-like headdresses and four with relatively plain headdresses, that serve as the side walls and support the seat in a similar manner to caryatids. A wonderful example with a nice patina that has developed over the years. Size: 12.5" in diameter x 8.25" H (31.8 cm x 21 cm).

A similar example recently sold in Christie's ART D'AFRIQUE ET D'OCÉANIE, Sale 4045, Dec. 3, 2015, Lot 72 for 6,000 Euros ($6,386).Follow this link for the entry http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/tabouret-bamileke-bamileke-cameroun-5952708-details.aspx?intobjectid=5952708.

Another similar example was featured in the May 13, 2011 Sotheby's, New York auction with an estimate of $6,000 to $9,000. Follow this link for lot 252 from the May 2011 auction - http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2011/african-oceanic-and-precolumbian-art-n08749/lot.252.html

Provenance: Ex-Paul and Louise Bernheimer collection, Cambridge, MA and Laguna Woods, CA., acquired before 1980.

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#112037

Nicely aged wood with deep brown patina. A few stable fissures to seat rim, but otherwise intact.