TERA Gallery - African Art and Antiquities

"Altering The Way You View The World Of Art"
Type of Object:     
    Dan Chair

    According to Bocola's AFRICAN SEATS,  small multi-part chairs are
    found among the Guru, the Gere, the Baule, and the Dan. In the case of
    the Gere, we know that these small chairs played an important part in
    the rituals accompanying female circumcision. The girls would borrow
    them from their grandfathers and perform a dance with them.

    The wooden horizontal bar forming the back, bent into a smooth curve
    when newly cut, and then dried under pressure, is the most attractive
    part of the chair.  These small chairs are usually part of the household
    effects of a distinguished family. They are regarded as private property
    and may belong to older people, men or women. One has to ask the
    owner's permission if one wishes to sit on such a chair. Some
    individuals have sacred chairs that only their owners may use.  These
    chairs have eight parts, and sometimes have metal ornamentation.

Ethnic Group:       

    Guru Society
    Gere Society
    Baule Society
    Dan Society

Country of Origin:          
    Cote D'Ivoire
    Baule

Material:          
    Wood

Deminsions:
    Height 22 inches, width of seat 16 inches, depth 16.5 inches
    
Reference:                  
    ARICAN SEATS, pp. 70 and 71