Background of Ashanti Stools/ The Sacred Stools of the Akan
Form of the Stool:
The Akan stool and or the Ashanti Stool is a wooden seat. Many of these seats were used in every Akan house, prior to the introduction of chairs by Europeans. The importance of stools is still apparent, despite the introduction of chairs; there are more stools than chairs in majority if houses and nearly every house have a stool. Apart from its practical use as a seat, it is a work of art and a religious object. The art of wood carving is second to fame to Kente, an Ashanti-woven cloth. The stool carver therefore is an important person in the community.
A stool is composed of three parts. The base is in the form of a rectangle, the width of which is about a quarter of the length. The middle has no specific form; it is where various patterns and symbols are formed. This shows the degree of the carvers skills and the status of the owner. The form of the elements depicted determines what kind of stool it is, who can own it, its monetary value and cultural value. Some of the forms carved out in this middle part might be in the form of an animal such as an elephant, or a leopard; or in the form of four pillars supporting the top. Other forms could be shapes; such as a sphere with a hole in it. Other are rectangular with triangular designs surrounded by proverbial figures beautifully carved into the wood.
The top part always exceeds the base in length. The inner seat width is equal to the stools height, to ensure safe and comfortable seating. The top is curved at both ends. The curved shape of the seat also affords an easy means of carrying the stool on the back of a neck, for ceremonial occasions. It is forbidden to carry a chiefs stool on the head.
The word stool (Akonnwa) has a two-fold meaning, the actual seat and the state or office of cheifship. In addition to the real meaning as a wooden seat, the word stool is used to stand for the office of the chief or the King. To say the Ashanti Stool, (Asante Akonnwa), means the same as saying The English Throne. When an Akan talks about the stool land, the stool money, the stool farm of a particular place, they mean the land, money or farm attached to the chieftaincy or kinship of the place. Whoever had property over the Ashanti stool or Akan stool was the ruler of the land. The person who has claim to govern a group of people, is said to be a member of the stool of the ruling clan of the area. When an actual ruler dies, the incident is referred to as The Stool has fallen.
Material used for making stools, their finishes and sizes:
The choice of wood is very practical because the wood that the stool is carved from is selected for longevity and also for its lightness in weight, since it is carried around most of the time. There is a traditional choice in the species of wood for carving. Only a few are considered proper for this type of carving. The most important, in the choice is the religious significance. The wood is chosen because it is believed to have a super natural character (spirit) of its own. The top kinds of wood used by Akan wood-carvers are either sese or the Nyamedwa. The sese tree is by far the most frequently used. The sese tree is white and soft, and so is the Nyamedwa. The softness is of great advantage to the craftsman.
Dark Tan Mahogany
Neutral (Brown) Cedar
Black Ebony
NOTE: Ashanti stools are fabricated in five distinct HEIGHT SIZES. The Height depends on the tree available.
Price ranges are dependent on Height sizes, and range from 20 h to 6 h namely:
1. (20-17h same price)
2. (16-11h same price)
3. (10h)
4. (8h)
5. (7-6h same price)
NOTE: TO CALCULATE SHIPPING IN DROP DOWN LINK BOXES, USE THE FOLLOWINGSTOOLHEIGHT DIMENSIONS (w x dp x h ) AND THEIR RESPECTIVE WEIGHTS TO ACCESS SHIPPNG AND HANDLING COST.
1) 20 (24 w x 13 dp x 20 h) (60.96 cm w x 33.02cm dp x 50.80cm h) 21Lbs/ 9.52Kg
2) 19 (23 w x 12 dp x 19 h) (58.42 cm w x 30.48 cm dp x 48.26 cm h) 17 Lbs/ 7.65 Kg
3) 18 (22 w x 11 dp x 18 h) (55.88 cm w x 27.94 cm dp x 45.72 cm h) 17 lbs/ 7.65 Kg
4) 17 (21 w x 10 dp x 17 h) (53.34 cm w x 25.40 cm dp x 43.18 cm h) 16 Lbs/ 7.20 Kg
5) 16 (20 w x 9 dp x 16 h) (50.80 cm w x 22.86 cm dp x 40.64 cm h) 16 Lbs/ 7.20 Kg
6) 15 (19 w x 9 dp x 15 h) (48.26 cm w x 22.86 cm dp x 38.10 cm h) 15 Lbs/ 6.75 Kg
7) 14 (18 w x 8 dp x 14 h) (45.81 cm w x 20.32 cm dp x 35.56 cm h) 14 Lbs/ 6.30 Kg
8) 13 (17 w x 8 dp x 13 h) (43.27 cm w x 20.32cm dp x 33.02 cm h) 12 Lbs/ 5.40 Kg
9) 12 (16 w x 8 dp x 12 h) (40.73 cm w x 20.32 cm dp x 30.48 cm h) 11 Lbs/ 4.95 Kg
10) 11 (15 w x 7 dp x 11 h) (38.19 cm w x 17.78 cm dp x 27.94 cm h) 10 Lbs/ 4.5 Kg
11) 10 (14 w x 7 dp x 10 h) (35.65 cm w x 17.78 cm dp x 25.40 cm h) 5 Lbs/ 2.25 Kg
12) 8 (13 w x 6 dp x 9 h) (33.11 cm w x 15.24 cm dp x 22.86 cm h) 3 Lbs/ 1.36 Kg
13) 7 (12 w x 6 dp x 8 h) (30.57 cm w x 15.24 cm dp x 20.32 cm h) 1 Lbs/ .45 Kg
14) 6 (11 w x 6 dp x 7 h) (28.03 cm w x 15.24 cm dp x 17.78 cm h) 1 Lbs / .45 Kg
Manufacture of Stools: The art of stool carving is restricted to the male set: stool carving requires exceptional skill and patience. The carver has to produce, form a piece of wood, and have to figure described to him by the customer. The trade has always been a privileged one and today stool-carvers are numbered among those with lucrative and honorable jobs. It is lucrative because of the demand. Foreigners are happy to buy the stools as souvenirs.
Religious Ritual on tools used in carving: Certain religious rites must be preformed on the carvers tools as well in cultivation to the traditional sacrifices made to the spirit of the wood. The following tools are what a well-equipped carver would have- three adizes; used for chipping the raw piece of wood, for molding it into the intended form, for cutting the wood, or splitting the wood. A flat piece of iron with a sharp edge similar to the blade of a carpenters plane is another tool. A small knife which is very well-sharpened to carve wood and a species of spokeshave for planing the wood are tools. A few chisels and an awl slightly bigger in circumference than that of a shoemaker.
Types of Stools: There are various types of stools- ordinary white stools carved from the Osese tree, which is white and soft. Silver stools that have been entirely plated with silver. Then the third group is known as the Golden stools. Every Ashanti attaches prime importance to this stool. It is believed to be all gold. There are other stools which are made on the model of this famous one, even though no gold is put on them. Others are designed as a wooden stool, covered entirely with a Pure Gold leaf. Stools are also classified according to the sex of the user. There are mens stools, womens stools (generally presented by a bride-groom to his bride), and stools used by both men and women. There is also social status of people who use stool for official purposes. There is the chiefs stool, the Queens stool, the poor mans stool, and stools for attendants of the chief. There is also a further division of stools provided by the names given to them. It is not everybody who can buy any stool or posses a particular stool. Many of the stools may be only used by the King, and may not be sold in the open market.
The Golden Stool of Ashanti: The Golden stool was the visible symbol brought from the sky on a Friday by the celebrated Okomfo-Anokye, the greatest and most respected priest of the Ashanti Kingdom/nation (the district known as Kumasi) in the African nation of Ghana formally known as the Gold Coast. During the reign of King Osei Tutu is when this happened. Osei Tutu had defeated the Denkyira nation who had control over the then Kumasi district by forming loose confederation with nearby chiefs through conquests, persuasion, and treaties. To firmly unite the whole nation Okomfo-Anokye instituted the Golden stool as a common stool. On a Friday that he had summoned all the chiefs of the union to a great gathering at Kumasi with darkness and thunder, and in a thick cloud of white dust he miraculously brought from the sky a wooden stool, adorned with gold, which descended to Earth and gently landed on Osei Tutus knee . Okomfo-Anokye made a solemn announcement that the spirit of the whole nation, and all its strength and bravery depended on the safety of the stool.
