Stool - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 220 - € 250
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Description from the seller
Côte d'Ivoire
Baoulé
Bois
Hauteur : 220mm
Largeur : 220mm
Longueur : 475mm
The carved wooden low furniture is a traditional stool, originating from Côte d'Ivoire. While the Baoulé culture produces numerous ceremonial objects with highly complex or figurative designs, this piece adopts a clean, sturdy line that is deeply rooted in domestic life.
1. Formal characteristics and typology
Visual observation of the files tabouret_baoule-C272_3.jpg and tabouret_baoule-C272-8_3.jpg allows detailing the structure and life of this piece of furniture:
Monoxyle and rustic construction: This seat is entirely carved from a single block of heavy, dense wood. Unlike prestige, polished seats or those sculpted with anthropomorphic figurines, this is utilitarian furniture with minimalist aesthetics, designed robustly to withstand the test of time.
The curved seat: The top surface presents a slightly concave plate at its center, ergonomically shaped to fit the body and provide a stable, low seating surface close to the ground.
The solid and hollow base: The support of the seat consists of thick, solid walls. The large sides are hollowed at their base by a geometric cut in the shape of an inverted triangle, visible on both faces of the object, creating four massive corner supports.
The side handle that clearly highlights a rectangular monoxyle extension on one of the short sides. This sturdy handle allowed easy grasping and transporting of the furniture from one place to another in the compound.
The wood finish and patina: The surface of the piece bears a raw, light, matte patina, speckled with natural cracks, small desiccation splits, and wear marks. This texture testifies to many years spent outdoors or in contact with the sandy soil of inner yards.
2. Daily use and social role
In West Africa, and more specifically among Akan-speaking populations (including the Baoulé), the individual stool is an omnipresent object that goes beyond mere technical function:
The companion of daily tasks: A low, robust stool like this is the preferred instrument for domestic activities at ground level. It is used by women for meal preparation (such as pounding or peeling tubers), cleaning, or child care. Men also use it for crafts or during moments of rest.
The hearth of discussions and communal life: People sit on these seats to listen to stories, participate in family discussions, or receive a passing guest. Offering a stool to a guest who enters the compound is the first gesture of hospitality and respect.
An object inseparable from its owner: Even on the humblest models, the stool carries a strong personal charge. It is said that a seat absorbs the energy (aura or life force) of the person who regularly sits on it. When not in use, it is sometimes tipped on its side to prevent a wandering or malevolent spirit from settling on it.
3. Symbolic meaning
The low height of this furniture keeps the user in close proximity to the earth. In local cosmology, this direct contact strengthens the symbolic link between the individual, nature, and the ancestors who lie in the ground. The robustness and stability of its four massive feet evoke the longevity of the family organization, patience, and grounding in the face of life's uncertainties.
Baoulé artists have produced many works of art and remain very active today. With their sense of stylization and attention to detail, they have created pieces among the most elegant African objects. The Baoulé have created masks, statues, figurines, fetishes, combs, chairs, weaving loom pulleys, canes, spear-throwers, slings, ointment boxes, oracle boxes, divination boxes, carved doors, bead necklaces, and gold and bronze jewelry worn during major ceremonies.
Packages are shipped Monday to Saturday with tracking number.
Delivery via Chronopost between 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days across the European Union. Delivery to the rest of Europe and the world via Colissimo International.
We speak English.
mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateCôte d'Ivoire
Baoulé
Bois
Hauteur : 220mm
Largeur : 220mm
Longueur : 475mm
The carved wooden low furniture is a traditional stool, originating from Côte d'Ivoire. While the Baoulé culture produces numerous ceremonial objects with highly complex or figurative designs, this piece adopts a clean, sturdy line that is deeply rooted in domestic life.
1. Formal characteristics and typology
Visual observation of the files tabouret_baoule-C272_3.jpg and tabouret_baoule-C272-8_3.jpg allows detailing the structure and life of this piece of furniture:
Monoxyle and rustic construction: This seat is entirely carved from a single block of heavy, dense wood. Unlike prestige, polished seats or those sculpted with anthropomorphic figurines, this is utilitarian furniture with minimalist aesthetics, designed robustly to withstand the test of time.
The curved seat: The top surface presents a slightly concave plate at its center, ergonomically shaped to fit the body and provide a stable, low seating surface close to the ground.
The solid and hollow base: The support of the seat consists of thick, solid walls. The large sides are hollowed at their base by a geometric cut in the shape of an inverted triangle, visible on both faces of the object, creating four massive corner supports.
The side handle that clearly highlights a rectangular monoxyle extension on one of the short sides. This sturdy handle allowed easy grasping and transporting of the furniture from one place to another in the compound.
The wood finish and patina: The surface of the piece bears a raw, light, matte patina, speckled with natural cracks, small desiccation splits, and wear marks. This texture testifies to many years spent outdoors or in contact with the sandy soil of inner yards.
2. Daily use and social role
In West Africa, and more specifically among Akan-speaking populations (including the Baoulé), the individual stool is an omnipresent object that goes beyond mere technical function:
The companion of daily tasks: A low, robust stool like this is the preferred instrument for domestic activities at ground level. It is used by women for meal preparation (such as pounding or peeling tubers), cleaning, or child care. Men also use it for crafts or during moments of rest.
The hearth of discussions and communal life: People sit on these seats to listen to stories, participate in family discussions, or receive a passing guest. Offering a stool to a guest who enters the compound is the first gesture of hospitality and respect.
An object inseparable from its owner: Even on the humblest models, the stool carries a strong personal charge. It is said that a seat absorbs the energy (aura or life force) of the person who regularly sits on it. When not in use, it is sometimes tipped on its side to prevent a wandering or malevolent spirit from settling on it.
3. Symbolic meaning
The low height of this furniture keeps the user in close proximity to the earth. In local cosmology, this direct contact strengthens the symbolic link between the individual, nature, and the ancestors who lie in the ground. The robustness and stability of its four massive feet evoke the longevity of the family organization, patience, and grounding in the face of life's uncertainties.
Baoulé artists have produced many works of art and remain very active today. With their sense of stylization and attention to detail, they have created pieces among the most elegant African objects. The Baoulé have created masks, statues, figurines, fetishes, combs, chairs, weaving loom pulleys, canes, spear-throwers, slings, ointment boxes, oracle boxes, divination boxes, carved doors, bead necklaces, and gold and bronze jewelry worn during major ceremonies.
Packages are shipped Monday to Saturday with tracking number.
Delivery via Chronopost between 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days across the European Union. Delivery to the rest of Europe and the world via Colissimo International.
We speak English.
mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Indigenous object name
Stool
Ethnic group/ culture
Baule
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
