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Stool
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Carved from a single piece of wood, Nyanga stools like this were multipurpose and took on different meanings depending on their use. Shaped like a curved hourglass, the shiny, patinated surface is textured with incised geometric designs. One use was for young male initiates to sit on as they received gifts from relatives following circumcision rites. The stools were oiled for the occasion, which results in the smooth, colored texture visible today.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, early 20th Century |
|---|---|
| Date | before 1929 |
| Culture / Origin | Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nyanga, early 20th Century |
| Medium | wood |
| Dimensions | Diameter: 26.8 cm (10 9/16 in.); Overall: 27 cm (10 5/8 in.) |
| Department | African Art |
| Type | Furniture and woodwork |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
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