A Life in Ruins: Douglas Dawson, 35 Years of Art and Antiques 
13 July 2017
, Prestige Chair (Akonkromfi) - Image 1 of 2
, Prestige Chair (Akonkromfi) - Image 2 of 2
A Life in Ruins: Douglas Dawson, 35 Years of Art and Antiques 
, Prestige Chair (Akonkromfi) - Image 1 of 2
, Prestige Chair (Akonkromfi) - Image 2 of 2
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Prestige Chair (Akonkromfi)

Asante Culture, Akan, Ghana, Late 19th-Early 20th Century
carved wood, hand-forged brass, brass hobnails, leather 38 h × 32 w × 35 d in (97 × 81 × 89 cm)
estimate: $5,000–7,000
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Akonkromfi means praying mantis; this chair was modeled after 16th or 17th century European chairs and used on special occasions by the chief.

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African furniture can be divided into two distinct categories: furniture inspired by European models and furniture carved of a single piece of wood in the ancient indigenous tradition. The Western-style chairs offered here were all inspired by 17th and 18th century European models. They are assembled rather than carved. They functioned as prestige seating for kings and persons of high status and they preserve chair types that disappeared from Europe centuries ago. Their decoration, however, is distinctly African making them an interesting hybrid reflecting the complex history of West Africa and Europe.

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