INFO ON LARGE (53") HAND CARVED HEAD HUNTER STATUE - ANATOMICALLY CORRECT & w/HEADLESS BODY AT FEET!

I'm scared of his abs!

 

Hi, I just found this site... the posts here are so funny! Did you ever sell this? Thanks

 

A while ago sorry!

 

I've just done a search on ebay for "headhunter carving" and there are lots with this general idea of a man holding a head aloft while standing on a torso, different sizes, different faces. The odd thing about this one is the headhunter's face looks like something from Marvel comics, western rather than "tribal" like most of the others, not to mention the circumcision. The detached head looks much more realistic, and strangely peaceful. Who could have visited the Phillippines and lugged this home? Definitely intended for a "man cave" or whatever they call them nowadays, or maybe a very quirky bar or nightclub! A talented carver but the stuff of nightmares!

 

He's Bontac , Kalinga or Ifugao from Northern Luzon.... I would guess fairly recent .... they sure have a thing with Phalic souvenirs .... airport still has them ..just what everyone needs , a naked guy in a barrel who is "Happy to see you " when you lift up the barrel....lol... or an ash tray with a "large" upright handle....lol....

I'll stick to the woven hats and the coconut San Miquel mugs.....

 

curious how long it took to sell and whether or not you did “well”? Only big (not nearly as big as yours) tribal’ish decor type carving I’ve had it took a long time and I didn’t make much.

Edit: I assume local sale?

 

Local sale but I don't remember for how much sorry

 

He's missing his head axe.....

 

I believe it is a sculpture carved by Paul Gauguin in Tahiti. It is an imitation of the Renaissance bronze sculpture of Perseus decapitating Medusa, in Florence Italy by Benvenuto Cellini. Gauguin often copied poses from classical art and made them look like tribal art.

He made many sculptures in Polynesian. You can search them on the internet. A famous one was used as his gravestone in the Marquesas Islands titled: Oviri. I'll bet the wood is from Polynesia.

I have a smaller wooden sculpture of his main Tahitian girlfriend in my collection.


Sincerely,
Addison Thompson

 

Thank you - but sold sold awhile ago, although seeing it again I wish I'd kept it!