Description:

**Originally Listed At $400**

Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A distinctive wooden stool and backrest, carved with a graceful balance of form and function. The seat features a long, slightly curved surface, designed to support the sitter either horizontally when used as a stool or vertically as a reclining backrest. The support column is reinforced with a piece of dried skin that has molded to the wood surface, and a notch at the base may have served for mounting onto a larger base when used in stool mode. The seat is decorated with incised linework and openwork X-shaped motifs, which may also have served a practical function by promoting airflow and cooling. The warm patina of the wood, softened by age and use, hints at its long ritual or domestic life. While attributed to the Ndengese, nearly every culture across this region used some variation of backrest like this, making precise attribution difficult. Size: 20" L x 6" W x 6" H (50.8 cm x 15.2 cm x 15.2 cm)

Provenance: private Louisville, Kentucky, USA collection, acquired 1990-1998

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

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#193513

  • Condition: Great signs of age and use. Lustrous and smooth patina throughout. Old abrasions and losses and smooth with age. Stable pressure fissures and old abrasions to the surface.

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Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

February 8, 2026 10:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000