by Marjorie Searl
One of the most
interesting pieces of African sculpture in our collection is the Asante stool
(62.24). A catalog from a 1988 exhibition at the Galerie Amrad African Arts in
Montreal, gives new insight into the aesthetic and cultural context of the
stool.
 |
| The Ashante Stool |
The Asante people are
often referred to as Ashanti. They speak the Akan language and live in
the east central area of southern Ghana. The founder of the Asante
kingdom was King Osei Tutu, who lived in the late 17th and early 18th
centuries. He enlarged and strengthened the kingdom, which flourished
until a conflict with the British Empire in 1896 led to his exile and the
decline of his people.
While carved stools are
common in Africa, the veneration of the stool and its connection to ancestral
spirits is a practice unique to the Asante, according to E.A. Dagan, writer of
the catalog essay. Following is information from the catalog.
An Asante saying goes,
"The stool contains the soul of its owner. A man with no stool is a
man with no dignity." The carving of a stool is highly ritualized.
The commissioned sculptor must meet rigorous qualifications. He must have
technical skills, imagination, and be a devout practitioner of moral codes,
since the stool will eventually house the spirit of its owner. Sacrifices
and offerings are made, tools are purified, and the tree spirit is supplicated
if a tree must be cut down to obtain the wood.
Only three types of wood
can be used for the stool. Each stool is carved from a single piece of
wood and composed of three areas: the base is a rectangular flat shape,
the seat—larger than the base—is rectangular and curves upward, and the
pedestal is carved with a variety of symbolic motifs. The stool is
cleaned at least once a year by being taken to the river, scrubbed with sand,
and blanched with lemon juice.
The curvature of the
seat is called “the mother's embrace.” A
“good fortune stool” would be givenby a friend for good luck. A crocodile symbolizes
holiness. The larger and more elaborate the stool, the greater the
respect and higher the status of the purchaser. For example, there are a
number of designs available only to the king. The Gallery's stool appears
to most closely resemble a woman's stool.
"The Golden
Stool" forms the basis of an Asante legend. Following a battle
between Osei Tutu and a neighboring king, the Asante were victorious but tribal
unity was uncertain. To celebrate, Osei Tutu invited his chiefs to a
festivity on a Friday. A storm broke out, and through the thunder and
lightening, the Asante saw a white stool covered with gold descend from the sky
and settle on Osei Tutu's knee. The miracle of its appearance forged a
new unity among the leaders, who believed that the nation's soul lived within
the stool and they must remain united to protect it. The stool is named
Sika Dwa Kof—the Golden Stool Created on Friday. From then on, the stool
was hidden and used only on most important occasions. If it appeared to
be endangered, sacred offerings were made for its protection.
A blackened stool is one
that has been ritually sanctified following its owner's death. Sacrifices
and libations are poured over the stool, which then receives the soul of the
deceased, who becomes one of the ancestors who is worshipped. The
blackened stool resides in the stool temple. Only people of high rank who
have died by natural causes or bravery in battle, qualify for this honor.
Many rituals, such as the naming of a newborn or the seeking of forgiveness,
include prayers directed toward the blackened stool.
Contemporary uses of the
stool include festivals of worship as well as communication of symbolic
messages, but to a less traditional degree than in the past. Ghana has
been independent since 1957, and contemporary furniture is mixed in with
traditional stools in homes. Rigid codes restricting use of motifs have
been relaxed. New symbols and themes are used in commissions. There
is great demand for these stools in local and tourist markets.
No comments:
Post a Comment