In Asante culture, stools have a spiritual as well as practical use. Stools were often given as a rite of passage, or to symbolize status and power. The king of the Asante’s power is symbolized by his Golden Stool, the centre of the legend of the Asante kingdom. The stools are generally carved from one piece of wood into a crescent shape upon a support. These supports commonly have designs of repeated shapes or animals of symbolic significance to the Asante culture. When not being used, stools are traditionally turned onto their side. This is because Asante stools are said to contain the soul - Sunsum - of the owner, and turning them over prevents another soul settling. It was presented to Messsrs Cadbury and Fry by their Ashanti staff to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the firm (1907-1957).

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