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Tall vintage hand-carved hardwood owl figure, Makonde art
€79
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Private sellerElst, NetherlandsOn Whoppah since May 2026 • 13 sales
Product description
This beautiful owl sculpture is made of ironwood, a general term for a wide range of exceptionally dense, heavy, and durable hardwoods found worldwide. Although I don't know the precise origin of this piece, it resembles authentic Makonde artworks from East Africa (mainly Tanzania and Mozambique).
These are hand-carved from African blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon), an extremely dense wood from the ebony family, often locally referred to as a type of ironwood. Traditional Makonde carvings historically focused on complex, abstract human figures (Shetani) and family trees (Uamaa). However, in the second half of the 20th century, modern Makonde artists expanded their repertoire to include sleeker, more stylized animal figures – such as this geometric owl with large eyes – to appeal to international collectors and the global market for mid-century modern design.
The sharp, chiseled facets of the round eyes and the stylized feather structures are very characteristic of late 20th-century Makonde workshop production. It is in perfect condition and a real eye-catcher for the owl enthusiast!
Width: 9 centimeters
Height: 26 centimeters
Depth: 8 centimeters
Specifications
ConditionExcellentColorsBrownMaterialWoodNumber of items1Height26 cmWidth9 cmDepth8 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
Private sellerElst, NetherlandsOn Whoppah since May 2026 • 13 sales