Lot: 376

80th Tribal Art Auction

Stool

Cameroon Grassfields, Babanki

Provenance Size Starting price / estimated price
Helmut Zake, Heidelberg, Germany
Rudolf Sühnel, Heidelberg, Germany
H: 25.2 inch;
D: 24.8 inch
This object is not available anymore.

wood, brown patina, pokerwork, ring-shaped base, carved with three leopards and three standing figures arranged in a circle, rep. (breakage at the seat), cracks, traces of abrasion;
in the Cameroon Grassfields stools are an important part of a chiefs regalia. The leopard embodies certain attributes like speediness, survivability and aggressiveness which were transferred on the king. This is why the animal became the most important royal symbol, like an "alter ego" of the king.


Northern, Tamara, The Art of Cameroon, Washington D.C. 1984, p. 104 f.