Large Folk Art Carved Wood Ceremonial Style Head Horse Hair Metal 20\" Unusual For Sale

Striking and unusual large hand-carved wooden head sculpture featuring real horsehair, red and black pigmentation, pierced eyes, and applied metal details around the mouth.

Measures approximately 20\" tall × 11\" wide × 9\" deep.

The sculpture is exceptionally substantial and appears to have been carved from one large piece of wood, including the rectangular base, neck and head. The back of the head is deeply hollowed while the eyes are intentionally pierced through. Long natural horsehair is attached around the crown/back of the head.

The face is boldly carved and painted predominantly red with darker black/brown areas around the eyes. The mouth incorporates unusual brass/gold-tone metal pieces secured to the carved face. Evidence of older pigment and surface wear is visible throughout.

The combination of exaggerated facial features, red/black pigmentation, horsehair and metal embellishment gives the piece a strong ceremonial, ethnographic and folk-art character. Similar materials and stylistic elements can be encountered in a number of indigenous and traditional carving traditions, including North American examples. However, the exact maker, age, cultural origin and original purpose of this piece have not been established, and no specific tribal attribution is being claimed.

The massive integral base and hollowed head make this an especially unusual example. It may represent a ceremonial-inspired carving, performance/display object, or distinctive piece of outsider/folk art.

Condition: Displays considerable surface wear consistent with age and handling, including pigment loss, scratches, cracking/checking to the wood, irregularities in the carved surface and wear/tangling to the horsehair. Metal elements show oxidation and surface wear. Please examine all photographs carefully for condition and construction.

A powerful, one-of-a-kind-looking piece with tremendous presence—an excellent addition to a collection of folk art, outsider art, ethnographic objects, unusual sculpture or historic curiosities.

Very heavy