Analysis part one

Artist: unknown

Title: antique african ashanti carved wooden stool

Date: 19th century 

Medium: stained wood

Provenance: Ghana 

Source: www.xupes.com

Description: traditional stool

- various cut outs and simple use of design; truangles

-natural wear to surface, caused by age 

-45 x 5 x 29 cm

-Line: not very prominent or abundant 

   -mainly just outlines each piece of stool; horizontal 

Shape: 

-geometric: triangles of different shapes and sizes 

-form: 

    -geometric: rectangular prisms

    -organic: arc, oval

-color: dark brown stain

    -value: Varies throughout, darker in some areas than other 

    -intense, rich color

- texture: implied; not completely smooth due to wear

Value: mostly dark, but varies lighter in some places

-space: 

    - positive: piece itself 

    - negative: cutouts and openings surrond and enclosed in piece

Analysis part two

- balance: symmetrical

   - base and seat make it feel sturdy as oval seeps into them

   - rectangle in the center adds even more stability 

-contrast: pattern v. Smooth texture

   - organic v. Geometric shapes

      - arched v. Rectangular, oval v. Rectangle

    - bold color v. Simple design

-emphasis: layout of piece puts emphasis on oval and center rectangle

   -pattern on both of the parts highlights them too

-movement: arc of the seat seems to point to oval shape 

   - oval then surrounding rectangle combined with prominent pattern 

Draws attention 

-pattern: subtle in a few places on piece 

-proportion: seat slightly larger than base, oval larger than rectangle 

-rhythm: repetition of triangles creates movement as they are found in different places all over piece

-unity: combined action of smooth texture and low key pattern creates sense of togetherness

   -concepts work together

Analysis part one