Items Similar to Early to Mid 20th Century Modernist Style Figurative Abstract Carved Sculpture

Early to Mid-20th Century Hand Carved Black Forest Sitting Eagle Sculpture

Dogon Mali Carved Wood Ceremonial Mask, Early to Mid 20th Century

Early 20th Century Italian Hand Carved Alabaster Sculpture

Bronze Modernist Plaster Sculpture, Probably France, Mid-20th Century

Mid 20th Century Carved Soapstone Sculpture "Shou Lao"

Mid-20th Century Chinese Hand Carved Jade Sculpture

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 13

Early to Mid 20th Century Modernist Style Figurative Abstract Carved Sculpture

About the Item

An early to mid 20th century carving of a woman's face, neck and decollete carved in stone. This sculpture is reminiscent of the modernist masterworks of the 1930's from both Europe and America. The face is shown from the front with the sitter's head tilted to one side, a serene expression is evident. This rough hewn hand carved sculpture shows a natural, unpolished texture as well as cross hatching marks along one side. For a bit about how stone sculptures are carved, I offer this information from wikipedia, "Sculptors usually begin by knocking off, or "pitching," large portions of unwanted stone. A suitable tool for this task is a point chisel, which is a long, hefty piece of steel with a point at one end and a broad striking surface at the other. A pitching tool may also be used at this early stage, which is a wedge-shaped chisel with a broad, flat edge. The pitching tool is useful for splitting the stone and removing large, unwanted chunks. The sculptor may also use a mallet, which is similar to a hammer with a broad, barrel-shaped head. Some artists prefer to carve directly onto the stone, without a model; the Renaissance artist Michelangelo, for example, claimed that his job was to free the human form trapped inside the block. Other artists sculpt a preliminary model out of clay or wax and then translate its features to stone through the use of calipers or a pointing machine. Once the general shape of the statue has been determined, the sculptor uses other tools to refine the figure. A toothed chisel or claw chisel has multiple gouging surfaces which create parallel lines in the stone. Eventually, the sculptor has changed the stone from a rough block into the general shape of the finished statue. Tools called rasps and rifflers are then used to enhance the shape into its final form.".

Dimensions:

Height: 9.25 in (23.5 cm)Width: 8 in (20.32 cm)Depth: 6.25 in (15.88 cm)

Materials and Techniques:

Stone,Hand-Carved

Place of Origin:

United States

Period:

Mid-20th Century

Date of Manufacture:

1930s

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. In good antique condition with age appropriate wear. There are marks visible verso.