This item is a beautiful hand –carved sculpture of a village woman from Kenya, East Africa. There are many traditions in Africa that are passed down from generation to generation. One tradition that has been constant in Africa for many generations is that it is the woman’s responsibility to go to the river or the local watering hole and draw water for the families needs. When the young girls get old enough the mother takes them with her so that they can become accustomed early in life to this tradition. The instrument that is most often used in drawing water is a “kibuyu” (gourd) that has been hollowed out and then set in the sun to dry. This carving depicts the woman down one knee as if she has just drawn water from the river and will then put the gourd on her head to carry it back to her village. The craftsman created this beautiful piece of folk art, using only simple hand tools of small axes, various-sized knives, files and sandpaper. A unique feature to this piece is that the carver even engraved his name on the bottom. This carved sculpture stands approx. 9 inches tall and 5 inches long, and weighs 1 lb 6 oz. We have personally selected this piece for its beautiful carved lines, realistically portrayed. The carving was done by one of the world-famous masters of wood: the Makonde Tribe of southern Tanzania, (one clan has now moved to Kenya), using only simple hand tools of axes, various-sized knives and sandpaper. The Makonde craftsman carved this figure from a single piece of teak wood, which is an exceptionally hard and richly dark wood found in the borderland strip along the tropical areas in certain sections of Central Africa. Teak’s exceptional density makes it both heavy and beautiful in its brown, glossy sheen when polished. This beautiful item is 9" tall and 5" wide. |