Pierre Legrain (1889-1929)
Curule stool
c. 1923
Oak, ebony veneer, mother of pearl
H. 64.8 cm (25 1/2 in.)
Galerie Lesieutre

This Legrain stool has a curved seat, a central support and a stepped base which follow the form of many thrones that were carved for rulers of Dahomey (present-day Republic of Benin). This stool corresponds to the shorter thrones in the photograph here. Like the Fon stools, Legrain's has a hollow support with a perforated design on the sides; the cylindrical handles on the underside of the seat, however, were added rather than carved like those of Dahomey.