Nupe Wood 6 LeggedStool

Six legs, one tabletop, and a star carved in the middle for good measure.

Nupe carvers of Nigeria, West Africa, made this six-legged stool in wood in the 20th century. Carved stools like this are commonly associated with seating for people of standing and with household use. The round seat is dished and decorated with an incised star and rings of fine line work around the rim. Six tapering legs, thick and slightly bowed, carry it. The dark wood is polished to a deep brown, with scuffs and tiny cracks of long use.

About 13 inches high and 16 across. A low seat, a side table, or a sculpture that happens to hold a drink.