Cameroonian Wood Stool

Tall, thin and open as a cage, with no one inside.

Carved in wood in Cameroon, Central Africa, in the 20th century, this stool was made in a region where carved seats are commonly signs of rank and standing. A shallow round seat sits atop a tall, open lattice of woven diagonal struts, set above a ring foot. The wood is grey-brown and dry, with a soft, bleached surface and visible weathering, and small areas of wear on the high points.

About 15 inches high and 12 across. Slim enough for a hallway, upright enough for a conversation.