Cameroonian Wood Stool

Vertical lozenges, standing in a circle like a small council.

Carved in Cameroon, Central Africa, in the 20th century, this wooden stool belongs to a region where carved seats are often associated with rank. A thick round seat sits on a ring of tall, spindle-shaped posts, each one pinched at the ends and swollen in the middle. The base is a heavy, rounded ring. The wood is brown-black with a dry surface, a few small cracks and rubbed edges.

About 13 inches tall and 12 wide. Sturdy, simple and a little formal.