Early 20th Century Kingdom of Benin Agba Stool

Description

Literature

This stools were usually produced by carvers in Omada, the association of young men who served the Oba as … more Literature

This stools were usually produced by carvers in Omada, the association of young men who served the Oba as palace pages and sword bearers and who carved in their spare time. The tops and legs tend to be intricately carved with scenes from Benin history, palace ceremonies and traditional Benin motifs. Two examples from the second half of the 19th century are in the Perls collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This stool in particular depicts a ceremony with a Iyoba (Queen Mother) and dates from the early 20th Century.
See Kate Ezra, Royal art of Benin: The Perls collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1992, pp.263-270.

Material: Carved Teak.

Country/Region of Origin: Benin, Nigeria.

Circa: Early 20th Century. less