Ceremonial Stool with Anthropomorphic Supports, Cowrie Shells and Coin Inlays

📜 Description
Cylindrical stool with a circular seat and solid base, structured on a series of vertical supports carved as stylized anthropomorphic figures. The construction reveals a refined interplay of materials, with the primary supporting elements executed in carved bone of contrasting tone, while the internal core in darker wood provides structural integrity and visual depth.

Both the rim of the seat and the base are encircled by a continuous arrangement of cowrie shells, while the upper surface is entirely covered with a resinous or bituminous compound into which numerous colonial Cameroonian coins in French francs are embedded. These are arranged in a dense and regular circular pattern, contributing to the strong visual impact and material cohesion of the piece.

By typology, materials, and execution, the object is identifiable as a prestige stool, in which practical function is closely intertwined with symbolic meanings related to status and authority, resulting in a work of notable expressive presence.

📚 Art Historical Note
Within the Grassfields cultures of western Cameroon, the stool holds a central role as a marker of identity, closely associated with rank and social authority. The anthropomorphic supporting figures evoke ancestral or dignitary presences, reinforcing the symbolic and ritual dimension of the object.

The use of cowrie shells, historically employed as currency and symbols of wealth, combined with the inclusion of French colonial coins issued for Cameroon under mandate, reflects a period of interaction between local symbolic systems and materials introduced during the colonial era. The application of a resinous or bituminous compound as both fixing agent and surface coating corresponds to practices observed in 20th-century production, contributing to both the preservation and the distinctive material character of the object.

🧾 Technical Sheet
Type: ceremonial stool
Manufacture: Bamum/Bamileke sphere
Place: Cameroon, Grassfields area
Period: mid-20th century (circa 1950–1970)
Material: carved wood, carved bone anthropomorphic elements, cowrie shells, colonial Cameroonian coins in French francs, resinous/bituminous compound
Technique: carving, incision, application and insertion, fixing and coating with resinous/bituminous compound
Decoration: stylized anthropomorphic figures; shell borders; circular coin inlays on the seat
Dimensions: height 30 cm; diameter 26 cm

🔍 Condition Report
Overall good condition, consistent with age and use. General wear and a uniform dark patina are present. The surface is extensively covered with a resinous/bituminous layer used to secure shells and coins, now showing signs of wear, abrasions, and irregularities. The carved bone elements display minor abrasions and tonal variations. Cowrie shells are largely intact, with possible minor losses or discreet replacements. The embedded coins show oxidation and color variations. No significant structural fractures observed; minor imperfections are consistent with age and function.