This solid stool with four round legs is the most common piece of furniture found in the traditional Mende outdoor kitchen. It is very stable and sits low to the ground where women and children spend much of the day cooking. This stool was once round but has two missing rims on opposite sides corresponding with the grain of the wood. This is not a flaw as many cooks see the rectangular shape as being more functional. The stool has a built-up patina from years of use. The stool was created around 1960 and used for ten years and remains in good condition.
GEOGRAPHY / CULTURE GROUP: Sierra Leone, Mende. The Mende people are a population of farmers. They take tremendous pride in their cultural practices. The society is arranged in chiefdoms of different lineages. The Mende have very strong traditional societies that moderate social behavior and cultural practices. The societies also play major roles with rites of passage, divination, and healing. The Mende mystical and cultural beliefs help to bind people into communities. Notable among the Mende secret societies are the Poro, Sande and Wunde societies.
