Pre-Columbian, Caribbean area, perhaps Dominican Republic, Taino (Arawak) Indians, ca. 14th century CE. A spectacular ceremonial stool known as a duho, impressively hand-carved in the form of an otherworldly creature and incised with elaborate, geometric motifs. Duhos were magical seats believed to take their owners travelling between worlds and grant them the power of prophecy! The reptilian zoomorph stands upon 4 short yet sturdy legs, and dramatically projects his head forward, stretching open his enormous mouth as though letting out a sonorous screech. His stylized visage exhibits huge, sunken eyes, a protruding snout, and sizable, drilled ears. The elongated, flattened body is slightly recessed on the top to serve as the seat. Intricately incised designs of nested triangular and spiral patterns adorn his shoulders. Size: 14.4" L x 7.2" W x 4.4" H (36.6 cm x 18.3 cm x 11.2 cm)

According to the A History of the World in 100 Objects website, a joint project of BBC Radio 4 and the British Museum: "The Taino people believed that they lived in parallel with an invisible world of ancestors and gods, from whom their leaders could seek knowledge of the future. A duho would be owned only by the most important members of a community, and it was the vital means of getting through to the realm of the spirits. It was in one sense a throne, but it was also a portal, and a vehicle to the supernatural world….This is a seat for a leader, for the chief of a village or a region. Taino leaders were both male and female, and the duho embodied their social, political and religious power, and it was crucial to the functioning of their society. We know that in at least one instance a leader was buried sitting on his duho."

This piece was exhibited in the Museum of Native American History in Bentonville, Arkansas from February 1st, 2017 to 2019 as part of the "Coming to America - The Taino" exhibit.

Cf. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, accession number 001534, Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian, catalog number 23/6092, and Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, object number 16-24-30/C7504.

This piece has been tested using radiocarbon dating (C-14) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.

Provenance: private J. Hart Collection, Houston, Texas, USA, acquired mid-1970's; ex-MONAH, Bentonville, Arkansas, USA, February 2017 to 2019; ex-R. Harrison "Essex Collection"; ex-Wilfred Belmar collection, Dominican Republic, 1930s-1940s

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#174557

Legs are slightly uneven, granting a gentle wobble when pressure is applied to top. Chipping to peripheries with some areas of minor loss. Great signs of age with nicks and abrasions throughout, as well as natural stable fissures to wood. Otherwise, intact and excellent with ample remining incised detail and rich patina. C-14 hole to underside of proper left front leg.