Chair

As can be seen in the museum's collection, Chokwe leaders owned caryatid stools as part of their regalia. From the 16th century onward European traders and explorers brought chairs into Angola and the Chokwe adapted the form as an additional status symbol. Often these small chairs would be elaborately carved on the support rails with scenes from everyday life and history. This example is rather plain by comparison with examples in older European collections, possibly a reflection of Western collecting practices more than Chokwe taste. Also unusual is the face on the back of the chair. On most published examples this face is obviously male with the headdress of the ruler. This face is more like Mwana pwo, the beautiful woman mask.

Wood chair with a leather seat secured and decorated with brass tacks, with plain cross bars, a high back with a single horizonatal splat with a high relief of a face. The legs end in rectangular block feet.

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