Tonga/Lozi/Unidentified stool, Zimbabwe or Zambia
8.5in wide by 8in tall (21.6cm by 20.3cm)
wood, pokerwork
most likely 60s-70s
collection of Chris Doane, CO
Stools with 2 to 6 bent (angular) legs are known across Africa among various cultures: Tanzania (Makonde), Zambia / Zimbabwe (Tonga), Congo (DRC) (Lega, Binja, Zande), Cameroonian Grassland (Bamileke and others), Burkina Faso (Mossi, Gurunsi, Gourmantché), Ivory Coast (Baule, Yaure, Senufo) and Mali (Soninké, Bamana).
This particular stool was originally identified as Tonga, and the lighter wood and pokerwork tend to fall in line with stools from the southern part of Africa, but I am unable to come up with comparative 3-legged examples in this particular style in order to make a more absolute attribution so I am classifying it as Tonga/Unidentified.
The stool has a very nice presence and I especially enjoy the darkened pokerwork triangle on the top part of the leg with the opposing unfilled triangle in the bottom part of the leg. It has a nice patina and shows some wear.
$275 plus shipping
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