Stool

Late 19th or early 20th century

Igbo
Awka region, Nigeria
Coastal West Africa

The Igbo people are known for their elaborate system of ranked titles for both men and women. Climbing within this hierarchy requires considerable investment of resources, social capital, and time. Titles come with responsibilities and restrictions but also with privileges that include the right to regalia and status objects such as this stool. Comprising two levels of interlocking supports carved from a single block of wood, this stool was acquired by an Irish missionary in Nigeria before 1911.

Status: On View, Gallery 137
Department: Arts of Africa

Culture: Igbo
Title: Stool
Place: Nigeria (Object made in)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: 1875–1910
Medium: Wood, iron nails, and traces of pigment
Dimensions: 57.2 × 34.9 cm (22 1/2 × 13 3/4 in.)
Credit Line: African Decorative Arts Fund
Reference Number: 2013.68

Herbert M. Cole, Igbo (Milan: 5 Continents, 2013), p. 130, plate 7.
Constantine Petridis et al., Speaking of Objects: African Art at the Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago, 2020), p. 121, fig. 1.

John Reilly, Nigeria and Ireland, by about 1910 [this and the following according to statement from Axis Gallery in curatorial file]; given to his sister, Ellen Lanney (died 1974), County Meath, Ireland, after 1910; by descent to her daughter, Marie Lanney, Ireland, 1974; given to her son, Niall Kieran, Ireland, about 1990; sold, Bonhams, New York, NY, Nov. 9, 2011, African, Oceanic, and Pre-Columbian Art, sale 19412, lot 313, to Ms. Kenny Mann, Sag Harbor, NY; sold to Axis Gallery, New York, NY, 2012 [according to personal correspondence from Axis Gallery in curatorial file; Igbo, Milan: Five Continents, 2013, p. 130, plate 7]; sold to the Art Institute, 2013.

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

Suggested Terms

On View

Date:

Artist:

About this artwork

Status

Department

Culture

Title

Place

Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Medium

Dimensions

Credit Line

Reference Number

Extended information about this artwork

Publication History

Provenance

Share

Explore Further

Sign up for our enewsletter to receive updates.

Gallery actions

Image actions

Share