In this dramatic stool, a geometrically stylized leopard flaunts its prey, possibly a goat. Boldly textured with triangles mimicking the spots of the fur, stout bowed legs, coiled tail, and linear teeth, the stool is designed for a man of high status. This seat would have served as a public statement of a prestigious man’s taste, personality, and wealth. It links the owner with the unmistakable might of the leopard, an animal portrayed often in the Baule leadership arts. The object’s secular nature means that the community could take pleasure in its design, in the skill and invention of the artist, and in the carving style unique to his locality. Nian dan is a Baule phrase meaning “to look fixedly, to take a good, long look,” referring to the aesthetic pleasure derived from nonreligious objects such as this stool. In contrast, stools carved by some neighbors of the Baule contained ancestral spirits and therefore could only be appropriately regarded with deference to their sacredness.
The drama of a feline predator conquering a smaller animal may echo popular fables. The dense pattern, emphatic lines, and sturdy balance reflect the enviable stature of the stool’s owner, as well as the decisive order of nature.
