Mid-Century Wood Carved Indonesian Sculpture

1950sCarved wood cat sculpture. Crack in wood in front.

1950s Carved wood sculpture o a man’s head. Signed by artist.

Large Italian 1880s carved wood figure of Figaro. Nicely carved. Fingers missing. Piece of collar missing. Strings on guitar need restringing.

1950s Italian Carved Wood Folded Leaf or Shell Sculpture on Wood Base Spirals carved in base Carved Scalloped Edges Light brown, tan, peaches, and cream colors Italy carved on unders...

A whimsical and intriguing headrest carved from a single piece of hardwood in the form of an anteater. The curved back of the animal would have supported the neck and displays a wonderfully warm patina from tribal use. The anteater's over sized head has been carved in a charming manner. Found in Sumatra, but most likely traded from Irian Jaya.

3 carved wooden Ceremonial Masks from Nigeria, Africa and Indonesia These are unusual pieces, they are all carved in wood and painted One is a Yorubastam Gelede from Nigeria, it dates from the 19th Century and would have been used in fertility rituals, there are holes all around the bottom from which the costume would have been fixed The mask is good and sound, the colours are bright, it is 14” high, 10” wide and 13” back to front 19th Century Carved Wooden African Funeral Mask The second is a Funeral mask from Africa, it is painted in traditional black and white chalky paint, it dates from the 19th Century and would have been used in burial rituals, there are holes at the back of the mask from which decorative hair would have been hung The mask is good and sound, it is 16” high, 8” wide The final mask in this collection is a Saraswati Topeng Carved Wooden Dance Mask from Indonesia This is a charming painted Indonesian dance Mask, in the character of Saraswati, with her signature gold feathered head dress...

A mid-19th century Indonesian teak trunk with painted detailing.

Timor Island sculpted wooden traditional mask (circa 1970s) on contemporary metal stand. This is a traditional mask of a figure with male facial features and two holes as eyes and another for the mouth with a handle below the face. The island of Timor gave rise to a distinctive practice of creating traditional masks whose precise origins and significance remain uncertain. Portraying both male and female ancestors, they were held by men during dances and other ceremonies, including celebrations of victory in war. Carved sculptures and masks are specific to rural villages. Here the practice of animism, or nature-worship, is incorporated with the carving of ancestral statues and masks, which have a ritualistic function. Some occasions that call for these ceremonies may include asking for successful crop planting, for prosperity, for good weather...