This is a beautiful decorative village mask from Kenya, East Africa. Made of African mahogany wood by an Akamba woodcarver, this piece shows the interdependence between the animal kingdom and man. This piece is totally handcrafted from a single piece of wood, and the artist has left the mask in plain mahogany wood without using the natural dyes that you can see on our other village masks. The top of this wall hanging shows the head of an elephant, the symbol of total power. Below the elephant are two giraffe back to back. Then you will notice that the rest of the “body” of the mask is in the shape of the continent of Africa. In this “body” section of the mask you have two Maasai warriors killing a lion. Next there are four rows of animals, elephants, zebra, Rhino and leopard or what’s known as “the interweaving of the animal kingdom”. Pay special attention to the fact that some of the masks are fully painted, some partially painted and others are completely natural wood color with no paint at all. As a gift or a personal treasure, this art piece represents a combination of the old and new styles: aesthetically beautiful, typically African in detail and expression, and totally hand crafted. This woodcarving is best suited as a wall hanging. This mask is approximately 18 inches long x 7 inches wide. This picture is a representation: the item you receive may be slightly different. This difference reflects the artist's taste and whimsy and in no way detracts from its beauty or style. 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. |