Zaire Stool #1

Carved wood figural stool from Zaire
African stools and headrests are functional household furniture, made locally for use by local people. They are invariably carved by hand from a single piece of wood, and have artistic as well as functional appeal. They are traditional and genuine tribal African art.

This old stool is 20 inches tall, and the diameters of the top and bottom are about 9 inches. The African man from whom I purchased it said it was "Lega", which is possible from the shape of the face. I would guess it dates from after 1950, but ages are hard to determine for African carvings. It has a nice used and mellow patina, from years of use. There are the normal signs of usage, with light rubbing and some dust all over, with a few age cracks, but is in overall in Very Good used condition. I can find no noticeable repairs. See the photos below for more details. The final two photos show the top and the bottom.