Description
Bead-covered wooden stools and thrones are one of the most prevalent art forms among the various kingdoms and chiefdoms in the Cameroon Grassfields region. This example, once part of the royal treasury, belongs in the category of "travel stools," usually used in conjunction with more private, minor ceremonies and rituals at the palace. The leopard imagery confirms the object’s royal status. It alludes to the belief that the king could temporarily transform himself into this feared predator.
Provenance
Possibly Fo (King) Fotso I and Fo Fotso II, Bandjoun Kingdom, Cameroon (19th century); Fo Kamga II Joseph (1902-1975; r. 1925-1975), Bandjoun Kingdom, Cameroon possibly by descent from the above (by at least 1925-); possibly Rev. Frank Christol (1884–1979) (1925); Charles Ratton (1895–1986), Paris, France (before 1940 (perhaps earlier) to 1974); Charles-François Ratton (son of Charles), Paris by gift from the above (1974-?); Bernard Dulon, Paris, France; Yves Develon; Private collection, Paris by purchase from Yves Develon (sold on their behalf by Galerie Bernard Dulon, Paris, France, to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (-2006); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (2006-)
Accession Number
2006.138
Medium
Wood, cotton, plant fiber, glass beads, and indigo
Dimensions
Overall: 51 x 38 x 43 cm (20 1/16 x 14 15/16 x 16 15/16 in.)
Classification
Furniture and woodwork
Credit Line
Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
