{"id":19569,"date":"2022-11-30T11:21:02","date_gmt":"2022-11-30T16:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/?page_id=19569"},"modified":"2025-05-28T13:50:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T17:50:32","slug":"bamileki-stool","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/hudson-museum-scavenger-hunt\/bamileki-stool\/","title":{"rendered":"Hudson Museum Scavenger Hunt: Bamileki Stool"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Bamileke stool (HM1439<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Who made this?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This stool is a status symbol belonging to the Bamileke tribe of the Bamenda Grassfields of <\/span>Cameroon.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Significance of the stool:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Physically elevating somebody from the ground, Bamileke stools were used by important\u00a0people. These include the king, known as the Fon<\/em>, chiefs, and women who were known as\u00a0Ma Fo<\/em>. These stools were decorated with animals and shapes, the leopard being the most\u00a0important, representing the speed and strength of the Fon<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is it made of?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Handcrafted from <\/span>teum<\/span><\/i> wood, Bamileke stools are waterproof and sturdy. Ensuring each <\/span>stool was unique, they were painted and beads were pressed into the wood. The more <\/span>intricate and colorful the artwork was, the more significant and powerful the owner was.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n