Antique African Spider Stool
Antique African Spider Stool
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
This stool is in a superb antique condition – it is approximately 50 years old. From the Northwest region of Cameroon this “graffi” stool from Bamenda has been carved from one single block of the Umbrella tree. This wood is typically very, very dense and weights noticeably more than other stools of the similar size made from other wood-type. It incorporates a variation of the intricate hand-carved webbed spider pattern (without the usual typical raised "buttons") typical of tribal stool from this region.
Due to the antique/vintage nature of our items, we encourage our buyers to please examine photos closely and carefully read the description and measurements of the items to avoid any disappointments. There might be what seem to be some slight imperfections; most likely they will show flaws consistent with ware, ages, and use, which only add character and charm to the items. Each item is described and photographed as accurately as possible.
If you have questions about a particular item or would like to order, please contact Tribal Traces. We are more than happy and willing to answer.
BACKSTORY:
The Bamileke/Graffi are native peoples living in the west and Northwest regions of Cameroon. Bamileke settlements, with their rulers/chiefs known as a fons, consider the fon to be the spiritual, political, judicial and military leader of the chiefdom and he is the main rational behind most artistic creations. Communication with the ancestral world that lies deep within the earth is an important Bamileke belief. Carvings depicting earth spiders, a creature serving as the link between the ancestors and the living is commonplace. This stunning piece features the well-known earth spider (the abstract X pattern), symbolic of divine knowledge and playing a vital role in problem solving.
Routinely, tradition and culture would have it that such major wood carved pieces have the labour shared amongst several people. A first person harvests the wood, another gives the piece it’s rough form, a carver refines the details, a sander smoothens the surface, a polisher/painter/wax-er finishes it off, and finally, a merchant sells the finished item. It goes without saying that sometimes one person may complete more than one of the steps, but working together as a community is a highly valued and social way of doing things amongst the Bamileke people. Due to the accepted practise of soaking the wood, it is in fact considered a somewhat worrying omen if NO cracks appears with time.
This stool would have seated one and would have been used in the villages of the northwest region of Cameroon by a family, for example, when sitting side-by-side in a family meeting chaired by the father, the head of the family. It would have also served as a table for serving meals and traditional beverages, such as palm wine.
PRODUCT DETAILS/SPECIFICATION:
Type: Round wooden stool
Dimensions: Height: 37 cm, Diameter: 34 cm
Weight: 7 kg
Style: Tribal
Geographic origin: Cameroon
Date of manufacture: 1970s
Period: Mid 20th Century
Materials and techniques: Hand carved Umbrella wood
Condition: Excellent
Condition/wear/damage: It shows wear proportionate with age and use, including very minor scratches and dirt but generally is in excellent condition. It is usual with antique/vintage tribal pieces that some very minor, nearly imperceptible losses/imperfections exist.
