Gurage Wood House Post, Based

A twentieth century post with the posture of something much older.

Gurage makers in Ethiopia, East Africa, produced this wooden house post in the 20th century. Upright posts of this kind commonly hold up the roof of a traditional house, and the timber is left plain and strong. This one is slender, with a slight taper toward a squared-off top, and a faint lean to one side. The surface is an even, smooth dark brown-black with a dry, matte look and subtle lengthwise grain. It is mounted on a flat black metal plate.

About 118 inches tall. It stands on its own, which is more than most guests manage.