The finely carved high back-rest of this Jinka chair from Ethiopia is adorned with engraved triangular patterns, and at its centre, a cut-out pointed oval design. An interesting feature of this piece can be found at the top of the back-rest - an engraved male figure, located next to a short line of Ge'ez script. Two flower-shaped white metal studs and a geometric design decorate the centre of the seat, which, as a result of use, has developed a rippled surface over time.
High-backed wooden chairs figure prominently in the installation of chiefs among different groups in southern Ethiopia -serving as symbols of rank and entitlement during meetings by the council of elders.
Estimated Period: Late 19th/Early 20th Century
Ex Private Collection, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Height: 77cm
Seat Height: 32cm
Seat Diameter: 33cm
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