African chairs and backrests, were more than just pieces of furniture to sit and rest on, they were important symbols of title and prestige.
Ethiopian high-backed chairs figured prominently in the installation of chiefs among different cultures in southern Ethiopia, serving as symbols of rank and entitlement during meetings and gatherings by council elders. Members of wealthier families from the Jimma and related cultures in the 19th Century, kept and used these seats as household objects, they were no doubt admired for their beauty as well as their functionality.
Carved from a single block of carefully chosen ‘Wanza’ wood, each chair is an artistic expression with its own distinct character and sculptural identity.
In this exhibition I also share some examples of other highbacked chairs and backrests from further south into Eastern Africa and west into Western Africa.
My personal love affair with African seats has stretched back nearly 40 years, as time moves on they become increasingly hard to find and replace. I hope you enjoy this selection as much as I have enjoyed curating them.
