419 - ASIPIM CHAIR - Ghana - Ashanti

ASIPIM CHAIR - Ghana - Ashanti Late 19th – early 20th century. Wood, metal, leather. Dimensions: 77 x 41 cm. An iconic piece of Ashanti court art. The wooden backrest and frame are covered with brass plates decorated with hammered geometric patterns. The frame is punctuated by large brass upholstery nails, which reinforce the seat’s imposing and solid appearance. The two upper posts of the backrest are topped with spindle-shaped finials. The seat and the center of the backrest are upholstered in leather. This Asipim chair is inspired by 17th-century European chair designs brought by Portuguese and Dutch merchants, reinterpreted to reflect local notions of prestige. Research and documentation: Coryse Mwape, art historian specializing in ancient African art. Internal ref.: 1221