An old chair, very similar to cat. no. 119. The present, old and extraordinary Chokwe chair is also made of hard, heavy wood by very accomplished Chokwe carvers (for a more detailed explanation see cat. no. 119). As with the other, unusual Chokwe chair (cat. no. 119) there are also two figures at left and right above, the man stands at the left, the woman kneels at the right. And here as well, the curved armrests and the chair legs at the front are designed as heads, each depicting on their forehead the tribal mark of the Chokwe people, the ‘cingelyengelye’, a type of ‘Maltese cross’. In contrast to the chair of lot no. 119, however, the large transverse strut of the back is also decorated with a typical Chokwe face in relief. Including the tribal mark ‘cingelyengelye’ on the forehead. On the transverse strut below, two figures ride on an animal. The seat consists here of a solid, light brown leather covering, and also the two figures on each of the four lower struts display other activities: the figural pair at the front presents two elephant tusks, a scene which seems to be completely appropriate for a ‘chief’s throne’ etc. The additional decoration of this chair consists of extensive, rhomboid lines in relief, rows of decorative iron nails, as well as isolated, embossed copper, brass and aluminium sheet metal at the connections of the individual parts and on the outer rim of the seat.
Overall, an old, very stable piece of furniture, masterfully produced by Chokwe craftsmen (perhaps on behalf of European colonial officials?). This prestige or chief’s chair most likely comes from the same workshop as cat. no. 119. A piece with very good, visibly old usage patina. No damage.

Dimensions: 106 cm x 60 cm x 52 cm. Between the 19th and the early 20th centuries.

Provenance:According to information from the consignor, it was purchased at the site of origin by her grandfather, a hydraulic engineer who worked in Africa since the late 1940s, and brought home. Since then: Austrian private collection. (ME)