Stool 16th-17th century

wood

3d sculpting

rounded shape

stone

sculpture

3d character model

sculptural image

unrealistic statue

sculpting

wood

3d character modeling

statue

This 16th-17th century stool, crafted by the Dogon people, is a striking example of African art. The stool's circular form is comprised of multiple figures carved in a stylized fashion, highlighting the Dogon's intricate woodcarving techniques. This stool, currently located at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, serves not only as a functional object, but also as a powerful symbol within Dogon culture.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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The Dogon from Mali have a long artistic tradition, and some of their wooden artworks have survived over the centuries. This ceremonial stool is over 400 years old. Never meant to be sat upon, it combines sculptural elegance with cultural meaning. The seat seems to be supported by delicately carved figures, four pairs in total. They represent the nommos, male-female pairs of twins who are the founding ancestors of humankind and teachers of culture. The nommos join the sky, the seat, with the earth, the base of the stool. This is how the Dogon historically viewed the universe, made of two disks connected by a tree. If you carefully look between the figures, you can see the stool’s central post, which represents the cosmic tree.