Stool, polychromed carved wood; standing anthropomorphic figure centered on one side has arms to two serpents (prob. pythons) which act as supports; inside is kneeling anthropomorphic figure holding bowl and standing woman holding object; outer figure between latter two is column with fish-like tail at top; seat is saddle-shaped; oval base ptd. red has major crack; much paint loss; h. 44.5 cm. l. top 53.5 cm.
Donor:
Berta Bascom
Collection place:
Meko, Nigeria
Verbatim coll. place:
Africa; Nigeria; Meko; Yoruba; left on Berta Bascom's porch in Nigeria by someone converting to Islam
Culture or time period:
Yoruba
Collector:
Berta Bascom
Collection date:
before 1961
Materials:
Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Stools (seating furniture)
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Accession date:
December 21, 1988
Context of use:
acc. to Berta Bascom this is a Yewa stool, used by initiates to Yewa, goddess of the River Yewa. a somewhat similar stool, #96 in Bascom's AFRICAN ARTS exhibit catalogue, was carved by Duga of Meko, who may have carved this example.
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
length 53.5 centimeters and height 44.5 centimeters
Comment:
Gift to Berta. Cf. #96, African Arts, Bascom. Note: Yewa is goddess of River Yewa. Used by initiates.B/W photos (2) stored with Bascom Collection Index Card File. Two different views. PAHMA Storage Loc: 20A Mez, 133D
Loans:
S1972-1973 #33: San Jose State University (November 10, 1972–December 13, 1972)