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Overview
A pair of vintage hand-carved East African wood sculptures: a standing Maasai warrior holding a spear, and a tall crowned crane. The warrior has an elongated face, long looped earlobes, finely incised hair, and a cloak carved with a diagonal line across the chest. He holds a long spear upright beside him and stands barefoot on an oval base. The crane has a slender curved neck, a carved fan-shaped crest, a pale inset beak and eyes, and incised wing and feather details, with long legs and carved toes on a rectangular base. Both have a dark finish with warm reddish-brown wood grain showing through in places. They display well together on a shelf, mantel, desk or sideboard.
Background
Figures of Maasai warriors and East African wildlife were widely carved in Tanganyika and Kenya through the mid-20th century. The crane carries a paper label under its base reading "Hand carved in Tanganyika", the name used for mainland Tanzania before its 1964 union with Zanzibar. The warrior has a worn label or label residue under its base that can no longer be read. Each piece is carved from a single block of wood, including its base. The maker is unidentified.
Condition
Good vintage condition with no breaks or visible repairs. There are surface scratches, small abrasions and some lighter worn areas to the finish, including on the spear tip, the warrior's head and the crane's wings. The crane's beak is intact. Please see all photos.
Dimensions & Weight
The warrior is 13 x 2.5 x 1.5 inches (H x W x D). The crane is 12.5 x 2.5 x 1.8 inches (H x W x D). The pair weighs about 1 lb 9.9 oz.
Shipping
Free standard shipping within the US, packed securely.
