The round based, dark wooden Luba chief's ceremonial stool is representative of the people of the tribe figuratively and literally supporting the leader through the depiction of both male and female figures supporting the round seat. Carved from a single log, the stool portrays a father and mother ancestor figures back-to-back standing on a circular from, which comprised the central plinth support shape of the stool. The mother figure, with a hairstyle on the back of the head and a diamond-shaped scarification patterns decorating her stomach and torso, raises only one hand in support of the seat, using her left arm to support a suckling babe. The male figure, with a carved beard, raises both hands, palms outward towards the viewer, and supporting the seat on his elongated fingertips. Both figures present slightly bent knees, as if demonstrating that they are holding something of great weight, and stylized rectangle-shaped feet. Shows very old, shiny usage patina.