by Artist (743)
Luguru Peoples
African
The Luguru and some neighboring peoples of eastern Tanzania carve anthropomorphic chairs embellished with small, abstract, figurative sculptures known as "mwana hiti" (daughter of the throne) related to their matrilineal kinship systems. When displayed, these chairs or thrones are set on woven mats rather than directly on the ground in reverence for the objects. They are generally not used for sitting but rather as the central focus of leadership and initiation ceremonies. During initiation rites at the conclusion of a girl’s seclusion and training as an adult, initiates may be seated briefly on a throne like this one.
African
Anthropomorphic Chair
20th century
Object Type:
Sculpture
Dimensions:
29 x 14 x 16 in. (73.66 x 35.56 x 40.64 cm)
Medium and Support:
Wood
Accession Number:
2013.0017.0024.0001
Credit Line:
Gift of Dileep and Martha Mehta
The Luguru and some neighboring peoples of eastern Tanzania carve anthropomorphic chairs embellished with small, abstract, figurative sculptures known as "mwana hiti" (daughter of the throne) related to their matrilineal kinship systems. When displayed, these chairs or thrones are set on woven mats rather than directly on the ground in reverence for the objects. They are generally not used for sitting but rather as the central focus of leadership and initiation ceremonies. During initiation rites at the conclusion of a girl’s seclusion and training as an adult, initiates may be seated briefly on a throne like this one.
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