Anthropomorphic Janus/Composite Double-Faced Sculpture - 彫刻 - Mali (No reserve price)

Rare Double-Faced Janus Wooden Sculpture - Hand-Carved Tribal / Primitivist Art (33 cm) – Over 40 years in private collection. Dimensions: 7x7x33 cm.

Description:
Fascinating and highly unusual anthropomorphic sculpture in hand-carved solid exotic wood, standing 33 cm high. The figure features a striking geometric stylization with a strong primitivist character, notable for its sharp "T-shaped" nose profile and highly expressive concentric circular eyes.

The standout feature of exceptional interest for collectors is its Janus/composite double-faced design: on the reverse lower section (visible in detailed close-ups), a second mirrored, upside-down face emerges from the composition. This iconographic element strongly recalls traditional tribal symbolisms related to duality, ancestor worship, or protective guardian spirits (common in certain Sub-Saharan and Oceanic cultures).

Provenance & Condition:
This object comes from a private collection and has been in the current owner's possession for over 40 years, fully guaranteeing its vintage authenticity and period (dating back to at least the 1970s or earlier).

The solid wood displays an attractive, deep dark glossy patina with authentic, uneven surface wear. Crucially for collectors, the head and base feature deep, completely stabilized natural shrinkage cracks (age fissures). These occur when green wood dries slowly over decades, providing excellent visual proof of its age and manual manufacturing, distinguishing it from modern tourist reproductions. The base is further enhanced by an incised cross-hatch geometric pattern.