A Superb and Rare Kwere Throne, Tanzania

rising form eight interconnected legs with openwork design, the circular concave seat with elongated rectangular backrest decorated on the front and reverse with two spherical breasts and geometric design in relief, surmounted by a narrow oval-shaped head with flat face and crested coiffure; fine, aged varied light brown patina. 

Collected in situ by Pierre Dartevelle and David Henrion
Sulaiman Diane, New York
Fred Jahn, Munich

Berlin, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Tanzania: Meisterwerke Afrikanischer Skulptur, April 29 - August 7, 1994
Iowa City, The University of Iowa Museum of Art, Kilengi: African Art from the Bareiss Family Collection, March 27 - May 23, 1999 (for additional venues see bibliography, Roy 1997)

Jens Jahn (ed.), Tanzania: Meisterwerke Afrikanischer Skulptur. Munich, 1994, pp. 344-345, figs. 200 a and b
Nancy Nooter, "East African High-Backed Stools: A Transcultural Tradition," Tribal Arts, Autumn, 1995, p. 54, fig. 12
Christopher D. Roy, Kilengi: African Art from the Bareiss Family Collection, Seattle, 1997, pp. 97 and 336, fig. 44
--, Kilengi. Afrikanische Kunst aus der Sammlung Bareiss, Hanover, 1997, pp. 101 and 339, fig. 44
Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, The Tribal Arts of Africa, New York, 1998, p. 10
Christopher D. Roy, "African Art from the Bareiss Collection," African Arts, Summer 1999, Vol. XXXII, No. 2, p. 57, fig. 7

good condition overall for an object of this age and rarity; heavily weathered on seat and substructure, hole on back of seat and bottom of backrest, left side of back rest heavily eroded with some losses, ears chipped, nicks and scratches wear and tear, minor age cracks throughout; fine, aged varied brown patina.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Roy (1997: 336, fig. 44) notes: "The Kwere live in eastern Tanzania. Although their small mwana hiti dolls were described briefly by Holy in 1967, their sculpture has become familiar only recently, in large part through an exhibition catalogue by Marc Felix (Felix 1990). More than other matrilineal peoples of Tanzania, the Kwere have been influenced by the Swahili culture of the East African coast. This is particularly apparent in the elaborate and quite beautiful chip-carved geometric patterns on the tall back of this chair. Evidence of the more ancient traditions of female initiation is the large female head that projects from the top of the chair back."