Cameroonian Wood Stool

Two tiers of scaled creatures crawl around this stool, holding up the seat.

This stool comes from Cameroon and dates to the 20th century, in carved wood. In the kingdoms of Cameroon, carved stools have long been tied to rank, and animal imagery often spoke of a leader's power. Long-bodied creatures with crosshatched backs and bent legs circle in openwork, nose to tail, between a round seat and a ring base. The top is rimmed and worn looking, and the dark surface shows pale patches along the bottom edge. It stands 18 inches high and measures 25 across.

A seat with its own staff.