Erhe (Royal Stool)
Artist
Edo peoples
(Nigerian)
CultureAfrican
DateEarly- to mid-20th century
MediumWood
DimensionsOverall: 17 1/4 x 25 1/2 x 15 3/4 in. (43.8 x 64.8 x 40 cm)
Credit LineGift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.
Object number71.2383
Collections
Not on view
DescriptionBini Nigerian wood stool. Art of the court.Label TextStool Early- to mid-20th century Edo peoples Benin Kingdom, Nigeria Wood Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 71.2383 The Edo peoples of southern Nigeria share a common descent from the Kingdom of Benin, which prospered from the mid-1400s to the late 1800s when British colonial rule forever altered the region. The prominent central figure represents the Oba, or king. While the Oba is shown frontally, each of the other figures is depicted in profile in deference to his authority. His political power is clearly evidenced by the bound man sacrificed at his feet, as the right to take another's life was reserved for the king. African stools are typically round and carved from a single piece of wood, whereas this example is joined in the manner of European furniture. The Edo had been in contact with Europeans since the 1400s, and some former Portuguese slaves returned to West Africa from Brazil having learned European traditions of woodworking. Exhibition History"Sankofa: Constructing Modern African Art," Hampton University Museum, Hampton, VA, fall 2024 - spring 2025.
