Traditional stool — Peulh, Mali — African tribal art — Ref. 229

Description

This stool, carved from a single block of wood, comes from the Peulh people of Mali, one of the most widespread nomadic groups of West Africa. Renowned for their artistic refinement, the Peulh make everyday objects marked by sober elegance, integrating a strong symbolic and social dimension into furniture.
Used daily as a seat by family heads or elders, this type of stool also embodies a function of prestige and authority. It often accompanies its owner throughout life, becoming a personal object charged with memory and identity. Its low and stable form expresses rootedness in the earth and in the Peulh pastoral culture.
The notches visible on the edges of the seat, as well as the engraved geometric lines, softened by the wear of time, are typical of protective or identity signs found in Peulh art. They refer to an ancient visual language, often transmitted orally and charged with symbolism.
Carved from local hard wood, this stool shows a beautiful patina of use, marks of age and remarkable solidity. It has undergone no notable restoration, thus preserving its original integrity.

Technical details

Type of piece

Mobilier

Category

Traditional furniture

Ethnic group

Peulh

Country

Mali

Materials

wood

Dimensions

H 13 × W 26 × D 51 cm

Weight

2,4 kg

Estimated dating

second half 20th c.

Laboratory test

Not tested

Reference

229