The craftsmanship of Chokwe culture in Angola is here exemplified by a throne.
The Chokwe Masterpiece is a complex and artistic throne that attests to the power of the supreme Chokwe chiefs, whose peak of political and cultural influence dates back to the third quarter of the 19th century. The throne features the supreme chief, surrounded by two women and a child, drinking beer or wine from a cup while a young woman pours alcohol from a jug into a serving vessel. Other scenes evoke themes of journey and discovery, dating back to the era of Chokwe territorial expansion.
Concepts of ancestry, lineage, and fertility are also depicted in numerous scenes. At the back of the throne, scenes of human and material fertility are portrayed, with a mother and child on the lower lintel and two men offering medicines to take care of their health. On the upper bar, a blacksmith with bellows, a melting furnace, and forge guardians links the theme of human fertility with that of blacksmithing, making melting a form of conception. Four miniature representations of birds frame the back of the masked Chihongo character, symbolizing balance with nature and the wild world.
The backrest of the throne is adorned with a representation of Chihongo, a masked figure, spirit of prosperity, and royal power, surrounded by two representations of chiefs. The two front feet stabilize the throne and provide a symbolic foundation, underlining the importance of lineage, the continuity of royal power, and celebrating the heritage of all the Chokwe.
Source: Sotheby’s