Museum object · Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design
Nyala Chair
2020
East Africa, Africa
Source catalog description
This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.
The Nyala Chair designed by Jomo Tariku. The three-legged chair is constructed from American ash wood with an ebony finish. The chair has handcarved, T-shaped back and arms designed to resemble the horns of the nyala antelope. It also has a reuleaux triangular shaped seat constructed from three pieces of wood that have been bonded together to create a triangular, wood grain pattern. The three chair legs are rounded in shape that is wider at the top and that narrows towards the bottom, terminating in a plain foot that tapers. The legs curves inwards at the center before tapering outwards just above the foot. The front legs attach to the chair seat through fitted joints carved into the legs and seat and with a round cap at the top of the front legs. The back chair leg extends above the seat and forms the center support and arms of the back.
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Sources & collection details
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗
Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13
Catalog reference: 2023.64.2
