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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;2manybooks, post: 11245905, member: 8267&quot;]It is an interesting figure. Do you now any history about it?</p><p><br /></p><p>It looks like it may be carved from African blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon), also known as mpingo. It is a dense wood, often described as or mistaken for ebony, although they are different species. Is it rather heavy for its size? </p><p><br /></p><p>African blackwood is the favored wood of Makonde carvers from Mozambique and Tanzania. The Makonde had a tradition of carving masks and household utensils for their own use, but began carving figures for sale when their contact with missionaries and Portuguese officials increased after WWI.</p><p><br /></p><p>The detailed pattern of fine lines on the hair and dress of your figure is a style of carving that I have seen on many Makonde figures, and is one of the reasons I suspect it may have been done by a Makonde carver. The large features and lowered eyes are also seen in some of their traditional masks. You can see some of the same features in this example currently listed on etsy -</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/691637668/makonde-carving-ebony-wood-african-art" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/691637668/makonde-carving-ebony-wood-african-art" rel="nofollow">https://www.etsy.com/listing/691637668/makonde-carving-ebony-wood-african-art</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Your figure would be an example of what is known as the &quot;binadamu&quot; style, which usually depicted people in traditional activities and clothing. The dress on your figure is unusual, looking almost like a matronly European. Here is a somewhat similar Makonde figure, in a more African style of wrapper -</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]539449[/ATTACH]</p><p><a href="https://jp.mercari.com/item/m57315108788?srsltid=AfmBOoriJJUV2de_47FCu3pHEG_1CP9DT69l1r41UdnBYQ-dQfbmLf7s" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://jp.mercari.com/item/m57315108788?srsltid=AfmBOoriJJUV2de_47FCu3pHEG_1CP9DT69l1r41UdnBYQ-dQfbmLf7s" rel="nofollow">https://jp.mercari.com/item/m57315108788?srsltid=AfmBOoriJJUV2de_47FCu3pHEG_1CP9DT69l1r41UdnBYQ-dQfbmLf7s</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Some more information on the history of Makonde carvings -</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.blackwoodconservation.org/makonde-art/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.blackwoodconservation.org/makonde-art/" rel="nofollow">https://www.blackwoodconservation.org/makonde-art/</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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