Chair

ClassificationsFurnishings-Furniture-chairs

Culture Senufo

Date20th Century

Made AtCôte d'Ivoire, Africa

MediumWood

Dimensions31 × 15 3/4 × 29 1/2 in. (78.7 × 40 × 74.9 cm)

Credit LineGift of Anne and Long Shung Shih

Object number2020.14.98a,b

DescriptionThis is a carved wooden chair made by the Senufo people of the Ivory Coast. Carvers among the Senufo culture are members of an artisan caste that is distinguished from the larger populace who work as farmers. Almost all still do agricultural work when not practicing their crafts. The carved design of the crocodile of the reverse of the seat is a common motif in Senufo woodcarving, and appears in masks as well. This seat is often ascribed as being a birthing chair, though it is sometimes referred to as a chief’s chair as well. Given the introduction of western-style chairs and their usage by the elite, it seems likely that this chair would have been used for the former purpose. This is made all the more likely by the importance of maternity in Senufo society, as evidenced by tyekpa maternity figures. Interestingly, socketed seats such as this are attributed to the Senufo and groups in Ethiopia, who use only one supporting peg, creating a tripodal seat.

On View

Not on view

Collections