Songye stools upheld by human figures symbolize the might of a chief who is supported by someone of inferior rank. Among the neighboring Luba peoples, similar stools were made for use by kings as their throne for state occasions. It is thought that the Songye adopted this type of stool from the Luba.
Details
| Artist | Songye, African |
|---|---|
| Title |
|
| Date | between 19th and 20th century |
| Medium | Wood |
| Dimensions | Overall: 21 3/8 × 13 3/4 × 13 1/4 inches (54.3 × 34.9 × 33.7 cm) |
| Credit Line | Founders Society Purchase, Robert H. Tannahill Foundation Fund |
| Accession Number | 75.1 |
| Department | Africa, Oceania & Indigenous Americas |
| On View | African N100, Level 1 (see map) |
Provenance
1914-1922, F. A. Snow (England).
Merton Simpson (New York City, New York, USA).
1970, sold by Lambert G. Snow.
(John Elliott, New York, New York, USA);
1975-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)
Merton Simpson (New York City, New York, USA).
1970, sold by Lambert G. Snow.
(John Elliott, New York, New York, USA);
1975-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)
Published References
African Masterworks In The Detroit Institute of Arts. Washington and London: The Detroit Institute of Arts and Smithsonian Institution Press, 1995, cat. no. 78.
