Here is a beautiful hand–carved male antelope from Kenya, East Africa. This work of art was masterfully crafted from a single block of rich teak wood by an Akamba carver, living in southern Kenya. We have personally selected this piece for its realistic look, beautifully carved lines and the rich grain in the highly polished wood. Looking over the savannahs of Africa, you will often see the antelope in just this pose, with his head turned as he checks for danger. The herds are enchanting to watch, and are indeed one of the leading attractions which draw tourists to Kenya. In rough woodsheds and under the shade of the mango trees, Akamba wood carvers work in a craft cooperative, surrounded with sounds of chipping and sanding, men’s voices and laughter, occasional singing and the spicy, tangy smell of exotic woods. Here the craftsmen reduce single pieces of wood into useful and beautiful pieces of folk art, using only simple hand tools of axes, various-sized knives, files and sandpaper. The Akamba people are famous all over the world for their unique wood carving skills, which are passed from generation to generation. I have met Akamba men who were 5th generation wood carvers. The man who carved this piece, however, is a Master of the masters! This is not a carving that you would find in most tourist shops or in the local street markets. Absolutely exquisite, this antelope stands approx. 8 inches tall and 4 inches long. |