Frank Kiska writes:
I picked up this chair as part of a transit claim that I am working on.
I will be working on the 2 carved figures that have their leg and toes
broken off and missing that are sitting on the bottom stretchers.
The owners told me that they purchased it in Angola Africa about
20 years ago. I asked them about the history of the piece, but they
didn't know anything about it. This chair is very small (a childs chair).
The seat is 13 inchs square (well almost square) and it measures
28 inches from floor to the top of the back. The seat is some sort of
animal hide that is wrapped securely on the underside. It's definetely
hand made and all of the glue joints and finish are in good shape.
The wood is very light & very strong. I'm not too sure what it is.
A friend who imports lumber is coming over to take a look at it
to determine what kind of wood it is.
I thought that I had seen it all -- I guess that I never will.
Does anyone out there have any information about what this chair
signifies. I almost want to believe that the carved figures sitting on
the bottom stretchers mean something as well as the carvings on
the top of the inside back.
Any input would be appreciated.
Frank Kiska
Quakertown, PA
