Zande stool
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1970.38.11
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Western Equatoria near Yambio
Cultural Group:
Zande
Date Made:
By 1930
Materials:
Wood Plant , Pigment
Process:
Carved , Decorated , Incised , Grooved , Stained , Polished
Dimensions:
Ht = 263; seat L = 358, W = 345, th = 33; handgrip L = 95, W = 20; pedestal fenestration L = 94, W = 48; base foot diam = 325 x 308, th = 28; hole at centre of base diam = 92 x 89 mm [RTS 13/5/2005].
Weight:
>1000 g
Local Name:
mbata?
Other Owners:
Probably collected by Evans-Pritchard himself during his fieldwork amongst the Zande, which took place during 1927, part of 1928 and 1929 and for several months during 1930 [CM; RTS 6/7/2004].
Field Collector:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Purchased 1970, by grant aid from the MCG/ V&A purchase grant fund.
Collected Date:
1927 - 1930
Description:
Stool carved from a single block of wood and consisting of a slightly oval seat with narrow flat upper edge and slightly recessed centre, with a lentoid shaped hand grip cut near to one edge.
The sides and underside of the seat are flat, turning out at the centre into a squat cylindrical pedestal foot with a bulbous body that has four vertical rectangular openings cut into the sides, with the hollows meeting at the centre; below, the sides splay out to form a broad disc base with a circular hollow cut into the middle that connects to the hollow interior of the pedestal.
The hollow may add to the stability of the form.
The wood is a natural yellow colour (Pantone 7508C) that has been stained black (Pantone black 4C) and polished to a high gloss.
The upper flat rim and sides of the seat have been decorated with incised designs.
On the upper surface, these consist of a series of 8 hatched triangles with double line borders, with pairs of vertical lines in the spaces between.
The flat sides of the seat has similar vertical pairs framing a series of shallow semicircles made of double lines, each of which is filled at the centre with a block of vertical hatching.
The rest of the stool has been decorated with deeper carved v-shaped grooves - consisting of 2 pairs of grooves running along the seat underside to the pedestal, on opposite sides of the object, with a single groove spaced equidistantly between them on the side opposite the handle grip.
The pedestal body has been carved with 3 parallel grooves running around its circumference, at the mid point, with the line of these broken only by the fenestrations.
Finally, the top of the splaying foot has been decorated with groups of parallel grooves running outwards from the centre; these have been arranged in four equidistant sets, composed of 3 sets of 4 grooves, and 1 set of 6 grooves.
The stool is complete, but damaged around the edges and base underside where some of the stain has worn away.
It has a height of 263 mm; the seat is 358 mm long, 345 mm wide and 33 mm thick, while the hand grip measures 95 by 20 mm across; the pedestal fenestrations are 48 mm wide and 94 mm high; the foot base has a diameter of 325 by 308 mm and is 28 mm thick, while the hole at its centre measures 92 by 89 mm.
Probably collected by Evans-Pritchard himself during his fieldwork amongst the Zande, which took place during 1927, part of 1928 and 1929 and for several months during 1930. For similar Zande stools collected by him, see also 1970.38.10 and 1948.2.138, and 1948.2.139 (with solid pedestal).
Evans-Pritchard photographed a comparable of stool being manufactured by the Zande woodworker Kisanga - see the photographic archives for accession numbers 1998.341.22, 1998.341.79, 1998.341.316 and 1998.341.319 where a nearly completed stool is being stained by applying a liquid to it from a clay pot boiling on a fire, showing that, unlike some of the wooden bowls, stools were stained by the craftsman, not the subsequent owner. Other images show Kisanga using an adze to carve out the wood (e.g.: 1998.341.27, although in this case the stool has a square top - either because it is unfinished, or because it is a slightly different form). This type of stool also appears in images 1998.341.152, 1998.341.185 and 1998.341.502, and being sat on by men in 1998.341.206 and 1998.341.211.
Larken describes these stools as follows: "Solid wood… is employed in the manufacture of the stools, mbata , which are made after the fashion of this dish [a circular dish on a pedestal stem, sometimes pierced, with round base]; the seat is slightly hollowed so that there is a flat raised rim at the circumference, and is usually pierced so that it may be hung up by a cord out of the way of white ants. Such stools are about a foot in height, or rather more, the diameter being the same, though bigger ones are not uncommon … sections of logs … must be used for the standing dishes, stools and mortars." (P.M. Larken, 1927, "Impressions of the Azande", Sudan Notes and Records X, p. 132).
This style of object seems to be produced also by the Mangbetu, called nobarra, and carved by male craftsmen. These stools were used by Mangbetu women, who sometimes passed a carrying strap around the top of the pedestal and through the hand grip, with the strap either going across the forehead so the stool could hang down their back, or over one shoulder (see E. Schildkrout & C.A. Keim, 1990, African Reflections , pp 119-121, fig. 6.25, and photos showing these stools in use, figure 7.3 and 7.5).
Rachael Sparks 23/08/2005.
Probably collected by Evans-Pritchard himself during his fieldwork amongst the Zande, which took place during 1927, part of 1928 and 1929 and for several months during 1930. For similar Zande stools collected by him, see also 1970.38.10 and 1948.2.138, and 1948.2.139 (with solid pedestal).
Evans-Pritchard photographed a comparable of stool being manufactured by the Zande woodworker Kisanga - see the photographic archives for accession numbers 1998.341.22, 1998.341.79, 1998.341.316 and 1998.341.319 where a nearly completed stool is being stained by applying a liquid to it from a clay pot boiling on a fire, showing that, unlike some of the wooden bowls, stools were stained by the craftsman, not the subsequent owner. Other images show Kisanga using an adze to carve out the wood (e.g.: 1998.341.27, although in this case the stool has a square top - either because it is unfinished, or because it is a slightly different form). This type of stool also appears in images 1998.341.152, 1998.341.185 and 1998.341.502, and being sat on by men in 1998.341.206 and 1998.341.211.
Larken describes these stools as follows: "Solid wood… is employed in the manufacture of the stools, mbata , which are made after the fashion of this dish [a circular dish on a pedestal stem, sometimes pierced, with round base]; the seat is slightly hollowed so that there is a flat raised rim at the circumference, and is usually pierced so that it may be hung up by a cord out of the way of white ants. Such stools are about a foot in height, or rather more, the diameter being the same, though bigger ones are not uncommon … sections of logs … must be used for the standing dishes, stools and mortars." (P.M. Larken, 1927, "Impressions of the Azande", Sudan Notes and Records X, p. 132).
This style of object seems to be produced also by the Mangbetu, called nobarra, and carved by male craftsmen. These stools were used by Mangbetu women, who sometimes passed a carrying strap around the top of the pedestal and through the hand grip, with the strap either going across the forehead so the stool could hang down their back, or over one shoulder (see E. Schildkrout & C.A. Keim, 1990, African Reflections , pp 119-121, fig. 6.25, and photos showing these stools in use, figure 7.3 and 7.5).
Rachael Sparks 23/08/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
- P[urchased].
Professor E.E.
Evans-Pritchard.
...
Headington, Oxford.
Collection of carved wooden objects obtained by him in the 1920’s.
- SUDAN, near YAMBI VILLAGE.
AZANDE.
Wooden stool similar in form to 1970.38.10 but rim decorated with incised triangles filled with parallel lines, centre portion has 3 deeply incised lines and base has incisions running from rim to centre in 3 groups of 4 and one of 6.
Handhold [lentoid]-shaped cut in seat near rim.
Ht 26 cm.
diam of seat 34.5 cm.
diam of base 32.1 x 30.5 cm.
Additional Accession Book Entry [page opposite 289] - Documents relating to purchase of collection in RDF. See file 001.10. Prof. Evans-Pritchard writes that these objects are carved by specialists and were in use by the people from whom they were acquired. Green timber is used and the work is most likely to be carried out in the dry season. Several species of timber are used. The black staining and polishing is done by the owners themselves. - 1970.38.1 - 12 Purchased by grant aid from the MCG/ V+A purchase grant fund. [p. 293, red biro] - 70.11.12.
Card Catalogue Entry - The catalogue card repeats the accession book entry, but adds 'coll. by Prof. E.E. Evans Pritchard in the 1920's. Purch. from him' [RTS 10/2/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - 1970.38.11. SUDAN, Near YAMBI VILLAGE, AZANDE. Stool. Coll. by Prof. E.E. Evans-Pritchard in the 1920's. Purch. from him [plastic label with metal eyelet, tied to object; RTS 9/4/2005].
Written on object - SUDAN AZANDE, Evans-Pritchard coll. 1970.38.11 [RTS 9/4/2005].
Related Documents File - 1970.38.1-12: letter dated 2 June 1970, from Evans-Pritchard to Bernard Fagg, Curator of the PRM, offering several Zande and Mangbetu specimens for sale; this is annotated with a reply, which was typed up as a letter sent on the 4th June 1970, arranging for them to be brought to the PRM for appraisal. Letter from Fagg to 'Billy' in Barnes, dated 24th July 1970, enclosing photographs of the objects and requesting an assessment of their value. Another letter from Fagg to Evans-Pritchard, dated 27th July 1970, with notes about the objects made after an earlier telephone conversation between the two, and requesting more information about them. The Zande material is described only as ' Azande the balance [e.g. the remaining items] - stools, food bowls, etc.'. There is also an annotated copy of this letter which has been corrected and updated, resumably after a reply was received. This states that the Zande material came from near Yambio Village, in the Sudan; that it was acquired in the 1920's, the items had been used by the people from whom they were acquired, that several types of timber were used, that the timber was carved when green, most likely during the dry season, that the carvers were specialists, and that the objects had been polished and stained by the owners themselves, not after purchase.
An application was made to the purchase grant fund, written on 11th September 1970, and sent the following day, concerning the purchase of these items. This provided an itemised list, in which this object did not appear. A letter dated the 16th September, from Schuyler Jones (Assistant Curator of PRM) to Mr Dawes of the V&A added two further object descriptions which had been ommitted from the application by mistake; this item is listed as 'Azande stool. Height 26 cm. Diameter of seat: 34 1/2 cm'. Fagg also wrote a letter to Hugh Wakefield, of the V&A Museum, dated 27th August 1970 requesting a grant in support of the purchase of these items; the reply, dated 30th September 1970, agrees to pay half the sum required; there is finally a direction dated 6th October 1970 for Barclays Bank to Pay Evans-Pritchard £120. The file also contains a copy of several black and white prints of the objects acquired [RTS 6/1/2004].
Additional Accession Book Entry [page opposite 289] - Documents relating to purchase of collection in RDF. See file 001.10. Prof. Evans-Pritchard writes that these objects are carved by specialists and were in use by the people from whom they were acquired. Green timber is used and the work is most likely to be carried out in the dry season. Several species of timber are used. The black staining and polishing is done by the owners themselves. - 1970.38.1 - 12 Purchased by grant aid from the MCG/ V+A purchase grant fund. [p. 293, red biro] - 70.11.12.
Card Catalogue Entry - The catalogue card repeats the accession book entry, but adds 'coll. by Prof. E.E. Evans Pritchard in the 1920's. Purch. from him' [RTS 10/2/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - 1970.38.11. SUDAN, Near YAMBI VILLAGE, AZANDE. Stool. Coll. by Prof. E.E. Evans-Pritchard in the 1920's. Purch. from him [plastic label with metal eyelet, tied to object; RTS 9/4/2005].
Written on object - SUDAN AZANDE, Evans-Pritchard coll. 1970.38.11 [RTS 9/4/2005].
Related Documents File - 1970.38.1-12: letter dated 2 June 1970, from Evans-Pritchard to Bernard Fagg, Curator of the PRM, offering several Zande and Mangbetu specimens for sale; this is annotated with a reply, which was typed up as a letter sent on the 4th June 1970, arranging for them to be brought to the PRM for appraisal. Letter from Fagg to 'Billy' in Barnes, dated 24th July 1970, enclosing photographs of the objects and requesting an assessment of their value. Another letter from Fagg to Evans-Pritchard, dated 27th July 1970, with notes about the objects made after an earlier telephone conversation between the two, and requesting more information about them. The Zande material is described only as ' Azande the balance [e.g. the remaining items] - stools, food bowls, etc.'. There is also an annotated copy of this letter which has been corrected and updated, resumably after a reply was received. This states that the Zande material came from near Yambio Village, in the Sudan; that it was acquired in the 1920's, the items had been used by the people from whom they were acquired, that several types of timber were used, that the timber was carved when green, most likely during the dry season, that the carvers were specialists, and that the objects had been polished and stained by the owners themselves, not after purchase.
An application was made to the purchase grant fund, written on 11th September 1970, and sent the following day, concerning the purchase of these items. This provided an itemised list, in which this object did not appear. A letter dated the 16th September, from Schuyler Jones (Assistant Curator of PRM) to Mr Dawes of the V&A added two further object descriptions which had been ommitted from the application by mistake; this item is listed as 'Azande stool. Height 26 cm. Diameter of seat: 34 1/2 cm'. Fagg also wrote a letter to Hugh Wakefield, of the V&A Museum, dated 27th August 1970 requesting a grant in support of the purchase of these items; the reply, dated 30th September 1970, agrees to pay half the sum required; there is finally a direction dated 6th October 1970 for Barclays Bank to Pay Evans-Pritchard £120. The file also contains a copy of several black and white prints of the objects acquired [RTS 6/1/2004].
