Salù Iwadi Studio Zangbeto Side Table

Product details

Seller's Notes:I am selling below the market rate of $7,500 as I purchased direct from a gallery and there are the following imperfections: Varnish is mildly uneven on top of table and a few of the sculptural panels. The degree this is noticeable is shown in the video, i.e, you can only see it if you look very closely in the right light. The table could be sanded and revarnished to remove this entirely. There is a hairline crack in the wood in the base panel. It runs from the outer rim to the central post and cannot be seen unless looking for it. The gallery owner I bought this from assured me it could be filled and hidden if desired. I haven’t felt the need to as I don’t notice it day to day. Shown in final photo. Sadly I am moving house and can’t take the table with me. I love this table and owning it has brought me great joy. Certificate of authenticity with table. The Zangbeto Side Table by Salù Iwadi Studio is a functional art piece crafted in Lagos, Nigeria. It features hand-carved, radially arranged Iroko wood fins that mimic the spinning movement of the Zangbeto masquerade of the Ogu and Egùn people. Weight: 15 kg (33 lbs). Materials: Sustainable Iroko wood available in a neutral natural finish or an ebonized finish. Dual Function: The spiraling conical architecture acts as both a sculptural side table and an integrated bookshelf. Cultural Inspiration: Modeled after the traditional Voodoo night guardians of Benin and West Africa, translating kinetic dance energy and tactile ridge details into wood. Edition Type: Open edition, handcrafted and shipped out of Lagos, Nigeria. Museum Collection: Acquired by the Denver Art Museum in 2025. Exhibitions: Displayed across international galleries including Lyle Gallery NYC, Isabel Sullivan Gallery, and PAD London.

This meticulously crafted wooden side table is a profound exploration of Benin's Zangbeto masquerade, a vibrant and deeply symbolic tradition representing guardianship, spiritual protection, and communal unity. Rooted in the cultural heritage of the Ogu (or Egùn) people of Benin Republic, the Zangbeto masquerade is more than a performance; It is an intricate ritual that bridges the physical and spiritual worlds. This design not only translates the essence of the Zangbeto into functional art but also serves as a narrative vessel, inviting a deeper connection to West African traditions through contemporary design. The Zangbeto masquerades embody the blend of spirituality, tradition, and communal unity that defines their role in Beninese culture. Their movements are a powerful visual and symbolic expression of their purpose as protectors and spiritual intermediaries. The overall structure of the table is inspired by the iconic conical shape of the Zangbeto costumes, which are crafted from layers of cascading raffia. This conical silhouette is reinterpreted using layered wooden fins, arranged radially and in a spiraling configuration. These fins evoke the centrifugal energy and hypnotic motion of the Zangbeto’s spinning dances, creating a sense of perpetual rotation. The hand-carved tiers are meticulously crafted to simulate motion frozen in time, imbuing the static object with a dynamic, kinetic energy. The fins taper upward in a seamless gradient, balancing structural stability with visual elegance. This tapering design not only reflects the ascending movement of the Zangbeto’s dances but also creates an illusion of lightness, as though the table is levitating above the ground, and it also allows for the side table to double as a bookshelf with the angular configuration allowing for the support of the books. The intricate interplay of negative space between the fins further enhances this effect, allowing light to pass through and casting dynamic shadows that mimic the movement of the masquerade.

Brand: Other

Collection: Zangbeto

Manufacturer Link: https://www.saluiwadistudio.com/projects/zangbeto-side-table