Chair (Akonkromfi)
19th century
Asante
Arts of Africa
The leather seat, extensive use of upholstery tacks, inclined angle of the backrest, and finials of this chair are all based on seventeenth-century European examples. The flourishes on the diagonal arms and the elaborately carved openwork back are baroque. The X-form of the legs suggests a folding chair.
The word akonkromfi means “praying mantis” and probably refers to the articulated form of both the insect and the chair. Chairs such as this are purely ceremonial and indicate prestige. They are used exclusively by Asante chiefs and royalty on state occasions.
The word akonkromfi means “praying mantis” and probably refers to the articulated form of both the insect and the chair. Chairs such as this are purely ceremonial and indicate prestige. They are used exclusively by Asante chiefs and royalty on state occasions.
- Maker/Artist
- Asante
- Classification
- Furniture
- Formatted Medium
- Wood, copper alloy, leather
- Locations
- Place made: Ashanti Region, Ghana
- Dimensions
- 32 1/2 x 23 x 27 in. (82.6 x 58.4 x 68.6 cm)
- Departments
- Arts of Africa
- Accession Number
- 85.200.2
- Credit Line
- Purchased with funds given by Marcia and John Friede, Dr. and Mrs. Abbott A. Lippman, Mr. and Mrs. Milton F. Rosenthal and Carll H. de Silver Fund
- Rights Statement
- Creative Commons-BY
- Museum Location
- This item is not on view
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