{"product_id":"pair-of-vintage-beaded-bamileke-leopard-stools-trade","title":"Pair of Vintage Beaded Bamileke Leopard Stools (Trade)","description":"\u003cp\u003eLook past the beadwork for a second and you'll see what's actually holding these stools up: a carved leopard figure on each one, legs braced, taking the full weight of the seat above it. That's not decorative flourish, it's the whole point. In Bamileke royal tradition across Cameroon's Grassfields, the leopard is the ruler's spiritual double, prized for strength, speed, and the kind of cunning that lets it master its environment. A fon seated on a leopard stool was making the boldest statement available to him, literally positioned above the most powerful animal in the room. These two carry that same swagger in miniature: tight checkerboard beadwork in black, white, and tan wraps the carved wood seat and base, while the leopard's painted face watches from the center column of each. Call it a spotted pair with real bite, or just call it two stools sitting on some serious symbolism. At 14 inches across and 17 inches tall, they hold their own as side tables or extra seating. Flank a doorway with them and let whoever walks through know exactly who's really in charge of the room.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Era: Vintage\u003cbr\u003e*Dimension: 14\"(Diameter) x 17\"(H) each, sold as a pair\u003cbr\u003e*Material: Glass beadwork over carved wood\u003cbr\u003e*Finish: Hand-beaded checkerboard pattern, carved and painted figural detail\u003cbr\u003e*Condition: Wear consistent with age \u0026amp; use, blemishes and imperfections will be present. These are not to be considered defects but rather part of its character \u0026amp; historical value.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA vintage pair of Bamileke beaded leopard stools from the Cameroon Grassfields, 14\" diameter x 17\"H each. Each stool is built around a carved leopard figure, the Grassfields symbol of royal power and the ruler's spiritual double, wrapped in black, white, and tan checkerboard glass beadwork. Sold as a matched pair by DE-COR, a 20+ year antique showroom in Pasadena, CA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Why is there a leopard figure built into the base of each stool?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA: \u003c\/strong\u003eThe leopard is the most important royal symbol in Bamileke and wider Cameroon Grassfields art. Grassfields tradition holds that certain animals are a person's spiritual double, and the leopard, known for strength, speed, and cunning, was reserved for rulers. A stool with a leopard as its structural support literally placed the king above that power every time he sat, making it one of the clearest prestige objects in Grassfields court art. The Metropolitan Museum and the Cleveland Museum of Art both hold named leopard stools from this same tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ:What does the beadwork on these stools represent?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c\/strong\u003e Beaded stools like these come out of the Bamileke court tradition in Cameroon's Grassfields region, where beadwork historically signaled status and prestige. The checkerboard pattern and figural carving are part of that visual language, not decoration added after the fact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Can these be used as functional stools, or are they meant for display only?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA: \u003c\/strong\u003eBoth. The carved wood core underneath the beading is structurally a real stool, so they hold up as low seating or side tables. Most buyers use them as a pair of drink tables or plant stands rather than everyday seating, simply to protect the beadwork from daily wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(Requires White Glove Delivery)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e**Please bear in mind that colors of products shown may vary slightly from their original color due to monitor display settings or photography studio\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DE-COR | Globally Inspired","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50656893403373,"sku":"IMG_7516","price":2885.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0288\/5256\/files\/IMG_7518_dfbc55ac-2abc-41bc-b047-7a21efe00f10.jpg?v=1788996087","url":"https:\/\/de-cor.com\/products\/pair-of-vintage-beaded-bamileke-leopard-stools-trade","provider":"DE-COR | Globally Inspired","version":"1.0","type":"link"}