Lot #105: Vintage African Hand Carved Wood Ashanti Stool Chair Black Art

Vintage traditional hand-carved Ashanti stool/chair (known as a dwa or Asesedwa) from Ghana, West Africa. The ornate, circular carving supporting the seat features a stylized Sankofa bird. It is a highly important Adinkra symbol from the Akan culture. The bird is traditionally depicted with its head turned backward to retrieve an egg from its back, symbolizing the proverb, "It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten." It represents the importance of learning from the past to build a better future. The stool features a characteristic crescent-shaped, upwardly curved rectangular seat decorated with incised geometric patterns around the edges, resting on a heavy rectangular base. In Ashanti society, stools are much more than everyday furniture. They are considered deeply personal, sacred objects believed to house the soul of the owner. They are traditionally carved out of a single block of wood (often light-colored Sese wood, which is then stained). Dimensions: 23.5” w x 20” h x 13” d Pickup category timeslot {A}