Royal Chair (Akonkromfi)
Asante
Probably mid–/late 19th century
Medium
Wood, brass, and leather
Dimensions
96.5 × 61 × 53.3 cm (38 × 24 × 21 in.)
Classification
wood
Department
Arts of Africa
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
155988
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
At the height of Asante power in the 18th and 19th centuries, a wide variety of decorative seats, ranging from stools to chairs and palanquins, were developed as symbols of rulership. The wooden frame of this akonkromfi chair is covered with brass knobs, tacks, and decorative repousséd sheeting. Akonkromfi means “praying mantis,” a reference to the chair’s crossed legs, which are derived from a European folding-chair prototype. Akonkromfi are mainly reserved for festive occasions, when they may ...