Ashanti Stool

34. A stool with an interesting provenance.

Sir John Mcneill won the V.C. in the Maori wars in 1864. He was later involved in the Red River expedition in Canada. This stool appears to have been obtained while chief of staff to Sir Garnett Wolseley in the second Ashanti war 1873-4 where he was injured. In 1874 he was appointed equerry to Queen Victoria and in 1880 he became a Knight of the order of St Michael and St George. He served in the Egyptian campaign of 1882 and was in command against the Mahdist forces at the battle of Tofrek. He died aged 73 in 1904.

It has been in two halves and repaired with a heavy iron bolt.

Ashanti, 19th century.

42cm x 27cm.