Just bought one!!
“Shona Stool. 9" tall x 7" across.
Classic Tonga stool. The Tonga are a large tribe in Northern/Central Zimbabwe.
The men like to socialize, they will carry their own stool. This Stool has a very comfortable handle (the curved part). The top is slightly curved for a comfortable seat.
To treat the wood I have soaked it in turpentine and then applied Linseed oil.
This stool is hand carved then blackened/treated over a fire, then sanded smooth. If available the final finish will be clear floor wax. A man with such a stool would live in the rural in a Rondavel. These stools are quite comfortable and practical - do take care as the average Tonga man weighs much less than the average American.
I personally bought this stool in Zimbabwe during a long strange journey in the early 2000's. I would drive my old 1977 Peugeot 504 into a group of Rondavels and greet the people living there. The men would usually speak just enough English to communicate with. I would point to a nice Stool and indicate I wanted to buy it. Often trading a piece of clothing and some money. Smiles everywhere as these people were pleased to have a visitor, especially a visitor who would buy something and even gift a piece of clothing. Another of my great memories of Africa. Eventually I filled a 20' container of cool stuff to send home. Most of this cool stuff has languished in my house since 2004.”
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