Details

Title

Stool with wisdom knots

Artist/Maker

Asante Artist, Ghana

Date

twentieth century

Medium

Wood

Dimensions

15 x 19 1/4 x 11 1/2 inches

Credit

Gift of Sue and Mort Fuller

Accession #

2008.268

On View

Currently not on view

Stools with a curved seat are among the most important and symbolically complex of all Akan art forms. They serve multiple functions and have diverse meanings. Some are made for daily use as household furniture. The Golden Stool, on the other hand, is a symbol of the soul and unity of the Asante nation. It is rarely displayed and never sat upon. This stool is adorned with wisdom knots, a symbol of wisdom and intelligence. The knots derive from a tale in which an Asante chief shows his superior knowledge and intelligence by tying and untying a complicated knot.

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