Africa art Fine old Tribal Hand Carved Stool Marka Mali - eBay, Other Antiques, Antiques. (end time 12-Dec-09 07:26:50 AEDST)

African Art at Timbuctu to Tasmania

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Hand Carved Village Stool, Marka & Bambara People, Mali

These little stools with horizontal ancestor head are rarely seen in the villages now. Their beautiful sculptural form make them an interesting stool or side table. This piece was collected in Segou in 2000. It measures 18 x 42.5 x 19cm and is in good used condition although there is an old village repair to the leg on one side. (see pictures)

The artistic tradition of the Bamana is rich, filled with pottery, sculptures, beautiful bokolanfini cloth, and wrought iron figures fashioned by blacksmiths. They also have extensive masking traditions, which are used as a form of social control and community education.
African chairs, stools, and headrests support the body efficiently and economically. Their smooth and usually concave surfaces invite repose. Their forms fulfill functional needs while often also making strong statements of aesthetics and prestige
The stool is the most ubiquitous form of African furniture, the basic support for the body at rest. African stools have been created in an astonishing range of forms. Generally, seats have a comfortably curved surface to support the body. Legs, pedestals, and bases are designed for stability. Surfaces may be embellished to enhance the beauty of the stool. Many stools are also designed for portability. Handles are often built into the form, or a part of the stool, such as a leg can serve as a means for carrying.
The phrase "African art," often elicits thoughts of anthropomorphic sculpture and masks made of wood. This is not an inappropriate response, for African artists have produced countless masterworks of three-dimensional figurative sculpture. If, however, one thinks of other forms that are readily accessible for visual examination and appreciation, then one also begins to consider notions of design - the artful design of utilitarian forms.
Objects such as this show the creativity of African artists who have made utilitarian objects of great beauty. Made to fulfill a specific function, each piece was also skillfully conceived to provoke visual and tactile delight. Collectively, these objects are meant to be both used and seen.
The inventiveness found in these objects is both cultural and individual. In a specific culture, for example, a type of stool may have evolved over time, and there may be clear standards for the design and crafting of stools. It is the artist, however, who translates the received grammar of form into a specific object. Although working within a tradition, he or she may change tradition and cultural ideals by innovation, modification, or further refinement of the form.
Many utilitarian objects are carved from wood. In much of Africa, the tool of choice for carving is the adze. The adze is used for carving masks and statuettes, as well as bowls, spoons, stools, and other objects of use.
The carver at work demonstrates total artistic concentration as he reveals the form that exists in his mind's eye. One hand swings the adze repeatedly; the other hand continually repositions the wood to align its surface for each successive cut. The clarity of artistic vision is matched by the sureness of the artist's hands.
In many cases the sculptural qualities of utilitarian objects, used daily in villages throughout West Africa, place them among works of fine art. In many traditional societies in Africa the creativity and care devoted to the crafting of useful objects equals that given to sculpture of religious or ritual significance. Food bowls, doors, door locks, stools, combs, musical instruments and many other functional objects are worthy of the most critical appreciation.
http://www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/persobj.htm

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Since its inception in 1989 Sidewalk Gallery has become a renowned Tribal Arts Gallery. Specialising in Antique & Traditional African Sculpture representing more than 85 separate cultures collected from 26 countries across Africa.

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