Africa, West Africa, Burkina Faso, Lobi tribe, ca. early 20th century CE. A wonderful, hand-carved wooden stool of an abstract zoomorphic form. The "back" of the figure is a broad and slightly concave surface, while the legs are meant to be the feet of the animal crawling on all fours. One handle protruding from the back of the vessel is akin to the animal's tail, and the other handle is the lengthy neck and bulb-shaped head. Lobi women used four-legged stools for cooking and domestic tasks, and they were typically carved from a heavy dense wood so as to increase durability. The rich chocolate-hued patina is visible across the entire surface of the stool - formed from years of aging and use. A beautiful example of Lobi craftsmanship! Size: 21.25" L x 6.5" W x 4.25" H (54 cm x 16.5 cm x 10.8 cm). Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA collection All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #127307