Large Bamileke Ebonized Wood Spider Table
Large Bamileke Ebonized Wood Spider Table
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Huge, majestic, skillfully hand-carved, this now iconic gorgeous example of functional art is an ebonized Bamileke table. More specifically referred to as spider table due to the traditional feature of the “spider’s nest” design, it is now recognizable worldwide. It is a solid wood coffee table with detailed and intricate work of the carvers of Cameroon.
It has been painstakingly and entirely hand carved from a single impressive block of kola wood, an African hardwood from Cameroon and then ebonized using a customary traditional method. Pictured also next to a 50 cm spider stool, the shear size of the tree trunk and carving prowess can be fully appreciated.
Celebrated for its unique architectural and functional design, this well-known table is very appreciated indeed with good reason - organic yet modern and definitely eye-catching.
If you have questions about a particular item or would like to order, please contact Tribal Traces. We are more than happy and willing to answer.
BACKSTORY:
The Bamileke/Graffi are native peoples living in the west and Northwest regions of Cameroon. Bamileke settlements, with their rulers/chiefs known as a fons, consider the fon to be the spiritual, political, judicial and military leader of the chiefdom and he is the main rational behind most artistic creations. Communication with the ancestral world that lies deep within the earth is an important Bamileke belief. Carvings depicting earth spiders, a creature serving as the link between the ancestors and the living is commonplace. This stunning piece features the well-known earth spider (the abstract X pattern), symbolic of divine knowledge and playing a vital role in problem solving.
Routinely, tradition and culture would have it that such major wooden carved pieces have the labour shared amongst several people. A first person harvests the wood, another gives the piece it’s rough form, a carver refines the details, a sander smoothens the surface, a polisher/painter/wax-er finishes it off, and finally, a merchant sells the finished item. It goes without saying that sometimes one person may complete more than one of the steps, but working together as a community is a highly valued and social way of doing things amongst the Bamileke people. Due to the accepted practise of soaking the wood, it is in fact considered a somewhat worrying omen if NO cracks appears with time.
PRODUCT DETAILS/SPECIFICATION:
Type: Cylindrical wooden table
Dimensions: Height: 42 cm, Diameter: 80 cm, Weight: N/A
Style: Tribal
Geographical origin: Cameroon
Date of manufacture: 2016 - 2018
Period: 21st Century
Materials and techniques: Hand carved Kola wood Ebonised
Condition: Good - very good
Condition/wear/damage: Generally in good condition.
It is usual with tribal pieces that some very minor imperfections and variations in shape and color exist. Please note that due to the nature of the method and wood used to make these stools, it is also absolutely normal and likely for them to develop a crack of some sort at some time in their life. It is part and parcel of the character of the stool and not a fault.
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This piece is in extremely wonderful vintage condition – it is approximately 20 years old. Functional as well as decorative, here is a “graffi” stool from Bamenda, in the Northwest region of Cameroon. It has been carved from one single block of the Obiche tree and incorporates the intricate hand-carved webbed spider pattern typical of tribal stool from this region. . It however distinguishes itself by not having the raised "buttons" that usually punctuates the spider lattice formation.
The unique lines make it modern and architecturally eye-catching, while the sublime wood construction gives an organic feel to the piece. Due to the vintage nature of our items, we encourage our buyers to please examine photos closely and carefully read the description and measurements of the items to avoid any disappointments. There might be what seem to be some slight imperfections; most likely they will show flaws consistent with wear, age, and use, which only add character and charm to the items. Each item is described and photographed as accurately as possible.
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If you have questions about a particular item or would like to order, please contact Tribal Traces. We are more than happy and willing to answer.