Tribal Art

Several ethnic groups in the Ivory Coast have seats similar in design to this Dan stool, but it is distinguished by its carved decorative motifs and sculpted legs. The sculptor has preserved the natural shape of a branch for the back. Desiccation cracks, patina of use, dark, oiled.
For the Dan people of the Ivory Coast, also called Yacouba, two very distinct universes are opposed: that of the village, composed of its inhabitants and its animals, and that of the forest, its vegetation and the animals and spirits that inhabit it. In order for these spirits to establish themselves, a specific area of the forest is designated and always preserved outside the dan villages. Sacrifices are also required in order to communicate through these spirits. Different types of Dan masks have been identified, each with a specific function.