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 These bookends are a pair of hand crafted, ebony wood Masai warrior (called a moran’ in Maa language) and his wife, both in traditional dress. I personally selected these pieces for their intricate carving. The exceptionally fine, detailed carving displays this warrior’s senior rank in his dress and marriage. With a reputation as fierce warriors and an arrogant demeanor, the Masai have largely managed to stay outside the mainstream development of Kenya and still maintain traditions, and their much treasured cattle herds.
The carving was done by one of the world-famous masters of wood: the Makonde Tribe of southern Tanzania, using only simple hand tools of axes, various-sized knives and sandpaper. The Makonde craftsman carved each figure from a single piece of ebony wood, which is an exceptionally hard and richly grained wood found in the borderland strip along the tropical areas in certain sections of Central Africa.
Each bookend is 8 inches tall.
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