Chief's Chair with Figural Supports
West African, probably Yoruba (Nigeria) or Bamileke (Cameroon)
Cast bronze
45 x 30 x 22.5 in.
This remarkable chair features rows of stylized human figures arranged in stacked tiers, their bodies forming the seat, support, and backrest. Such figural thrones or chairs were associated with kingship and authority in many West African cultures. Among the Yoruba of Nigeria and the Bamileke of Cameroon, thrones and stools were central symbols of power, often richly adorned with carvings or beaded ornamentation.
Bronze versions, like this example, highlight the region’s long tradition of lost-wax casting and its adaptation of symbolic motifs for both ceremonial and decorative contexts. The dynamic openwork design reflects the importance of community, hierarchy, and continuity within West African kingship traditions.
