Throne

19th century

Bamileke, African

On View

African: Fit for a King, Level 1, North Wing

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About the Artwork

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Markings

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Provenance

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Exhibition History

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisonné

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Credit Line for Reproduction

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Audio Transcript

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About the Artwork

African beadwork is outstanding for its frequent use on large three-dimensional objects. Since beads were valuable objects imported from Europe, a lavish beaded throne like this was literally "fit for a king." The leopard depicted on this throne was considered "lord of bush" and was traditionally equated in African symbolism with the king, lord of his people.

Title Throne

Artwork Date 19th century

Artist ----------

Life Dates ----------

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. African

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. Bamileke

Medium Wood and beads

Dimensions Sight (as displayed/on angle): 18 1/2 × 16 × 17 3/4 inches (47 × 40.6 × 45.1 cm)

Classification Furniture

Department African Art

Credit Founders Society Purchase, Eleanor Clay Ford Fund for African Art

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 79.18

Markings

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Provenance

(Pace Gallery, New York, New York, USA);
1979-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

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Exhibition History

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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

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Published References

Detroit Collects African Art. Exh. cat., DIA. Detroit, 1977, no. 117 (ill.).

"Family Art Game." Detroit News, April 29, 1984, p. 19 (ill.) [DIA Advertising Supplement].

African Masterworks In The Detroit Institute of Arts. Washington and London, 1995, cat. no. 40.

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Bamileke, African, Throne, 19th century, wood and beads. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, Eleanor Clay Ford Fund for African Art, 79.18.