Stool

Mossi, Burkina Faso
Early 20th c.

Provenance: Roy Sieber collection, Bloomington, IN

This remarkable stool from the Mossi people of Burkina Faso transforms a simple seat into sculpture.

At the front rises a striking cubistic head, reduced to bold geometric forms — a long triangular nose, slit mouth, and helmet-like brow. The abstraction is powerful and deliberate. It feels almost modern, yet it emerged from a deeply rooted sculptural tradition. Years of handling and use have produced a warm, glowing patina, the wood softened and polished by countless hands. The wear gives the figure a quiet presence.

Turn the stool around and another surprise appears. The back of the seat is covered in a field of carefully incised geometric patterns — bands of triangles and linear motifs arranged in rhythmic registers. These engraved designs create a visual counterpoint to the sculpted figure, adding movement and balance to the form. A functional object elevated to art — where geometry, ritual use, and time itself combine to create beauty.