Relics of the American West: 1850-1920 - ONLINE ONLY
Lot 2514:
Description
This striking hand-carved wooden bowl, likely of West Africa (possibly Baule or Guro from Côte d’Ivoire) or Oceanic (Solomon Islands) origin, features a shallow, elongated oval form traditionally used for serving or ritual display. Carved from a single dense block of dark-stained hardwood, the piece is anchored by two stylized human “ancestor” heads functioning as handles, a motif common in ethnographic art representing protection or lineage. The wood exhibits a rich, aged patina with visible grain and “tiger” figuring on the underside. Physically, the item shows significant signs of age and environment; there are multiple deep, through-body cracks extending from the rim and handles into the basin, along with surface abrasions and drying splits throughout that suggest a need for stabilization. H 3″, W 11.5″, D 7.25″.. H 3″, W 11.5″, D 7.25″. Please see photos.
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