Cameroonian Wood Stool

Nails show where someone mended it, and it still sits level.

This stool was made in wood in Cameroon, Central Africa, in the 20th century. Stools of this type serve as everyday seats and are often kept as personal property. A broad, bowl-shaped seat sits on three heavy, uneven legs, with a small cluster of iron nails visible in one. The top is dark, nearly black, with a smoother, polished center, and the legs have a rougher, drier brown surface.

About 12 inches tall, 16 inches across. A seat with experience and the scars to show it.