Painted Wood Heads

Could I get a bit of help identifying these two folk which I picked up earlier size is 9 inches by 6 inches each , any help always appreciated thank you.

 

The "wood grain" looks painted on. Are you sure they are wood? Can we see the backs, please?

 

Hi it looks like a file of the backs is attached to my first post thought I had a photo posted.

 

Hi they’re definitely wood that’s actually the grain .

 

Think they might be souvenirs from Vendée, France.

Debora

 

Will check thank you thought they might be souvenirs of some sort looks like they have a bit of age , though just a bit.

 

Look contemporary to my eye.

Debora

 

And definitely not "tribal."

 

I hate to belabor a point,but those sure look like some sort of plastic to me.

 

Thank you just noticed the two hearts on a shield it was staring me in the face thank you for posting that photo.Yes I saw the photo earlier but didn’t look closely.

 

Thank you

 

Definitely cast from plaster or resin. Look at the air bubbles and the complete lack of texture on the flat surfaces on the reverse. Ridiculous grain texture too. No self respecting woodcarver would use an open-pored wood like this (I guess it's pretending to be oak) for an ultimately painted finish without filling the pores/gessoing as the grain REALLY distracts from the painted effect ..unless of course you wanted to flog said objets á touristique (pardon my French )

 

Not plastic I’m looking and handling them now definitely wood carved then painted.

 

No, not wood.
Souvenir wall-hangings; the apparent wood-grain is cast in. Most of these are plaster or resin-based, but yours could be another casting-medium. But not carvings.
Real wood-grain consists of differences in hardness and porosity; in finished woodwork, wood grain is not shown by incised or colored lines of any sort. Incised lines, as seen in these pieces, would be nearly impossible to carve; and as blooey mentioned, a wood-worker would not leave grain-lines showing, but would fill and finish them.

 

The 'grain' doesn't look right at all ... Joy.

 

Still looks more like plaster to me.....or resin....but not wood....IMHO!!!!

 

If they are of wood, why would anyone in their right mind spend the time and effort to hollow out the backs like that, making them look exactly like a cast object?

 

The 'grain' is on the hollowed out parts, but it doesn't continue on to the flat parts which rest against the wall.

 

I think you are right I thought it felt and sounded like wood but tried to cut with a knife and it just skimmed across one of the back edges.Not alabaster sounds hollow when wrapped like wood and feels like wood but it’s definitely not.