BAMUN, CAMEROON
WOOD, HEIGHT 35CM

The stool comes from Foumban in the Cameroon Grasslands, the heartland of the Bamun kingdom. It belonged to Nji Mboumbou Arouna Idriss, a nobleman in the tier of princes of the Bamoun kingdom, and direct descendant of King Ibrahim Njoya (1860-1933). The spider is the traditional symbol of both wisdom and safety, a well cherished characteristic by the Bamun royalty and nobility. The chair was brought to South Africa by his son as a very special personal item and was handed over to me directly from him.