This large and unusual high-backed chair from the Jimma region of Ethiopia is supported by three curved legs. An attractive cut-out cross design is featured on the chair’s upright back support.
High-backed chairs figure prominently in the installation of chiefs among the Gurage and related groups in southern Ethiopia. These chairs were also used during meetings by the Gurage council of elders, as symbols of rank and entitlement.
The chair has been carved from a heavy brown wood which has developed a dark, lusty patina over time.
Estimated Period: Late 19th Century
W: 57cm