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A striking vintage Ethiopian ceremonial or chief’s chair, attributed to the Jimma region, dating approximately from the mid 20th century.
The chair is hand carved from a single substantial block of hardwood, without conventional joinery. Its sculptural form features a circular seat, three pierced legs, a wraparound back and arms, and a distinctive high looped crest.
The dark surface has a rich, naturally developed patina, with visible hand tooling, irregularities, rubbing and wear consistent with age and traditional use. These are integral to the character of the piece and have not been refinished.
An exceptional piece of Ethiopian vernacular furniture that works equally well as functional seating, folk art or a sculptural object.
Origin: Ethiopia, attributed to the Jimma region
Date: Probably circa 1940s–1960s
Material: Hand carved hardwood
Construction: Carved from a single piece of wood
Condition: Good vintage condition with age related wear, surface marks and natural irregularities. Please study photographs.
Dimensions: height 34” width 17” seat height 15”
Jimma chairs are known for their monoxylous construction, meaning carved from one piece of wood, and for their bold, highly sculptural forms.
