Pair Large Hand Carved Teak Herons, 1960s

About the Item

A pair of hand carved teak Heron, dating to the late 1960s, perhaps early 1970s. There are no makers marks, signatures or labels. Balinese or Sumatran, indicated by the teak wood, sinuous style and carving skill required for this level of fluidity. Each has a pair of eyes embedded, made of bone. This is a feature of earlier, more carefully produced Balinese sculptures, before mass production overtook hand craft, to meet demand from the tourist market of the 1990s. The figures are life size, modeled on White Faced Heron, or perhaps the Australasian Darter - both species are notably elegant water birds of Australia and Indonesia. The taller of the two figures is 21 inches or 53 cm high, the smaller 18.3 inches or 46.5cm. This is quite large for such graceful carving in timber. What we love most about them is the way these two relate to each other in a multitude of poses, whether spaced apart or close together. They have a lively, graceful presence and seem to respond to one another. It's unusual to find a pair of substantial decorative Heron so beautifully modeled. With age, there have been a few dings but the overall condition is great. Note, there are natural faults in the timber that we've shown in our images. They've been gently cleaned and smoothed with super fine steel wool. A layer or hard wax oil has been applied. This is neutral, natural mineral oil and wax mix that will protect and enhance for years to come. We've made a repair to one leg where there was a simple fracture or split, not a full break. The repair is very well done and not at all obtrusive, quite easy to miss in fact. See closeup images indicated with yellow pencil as pointer. The almost invisible repair is shown with a match-head next to it for scale. Note, as these birds are made of timber, they should be kept away from direct heat sources such as radiators which may cause cracking, and direct sunlight which may cause color changes. This pair of graceful birds offer unique charm, especially in the way the figures display a relationship to one another. They also show masterful composition and carving skill. These two are all set for travel overseas. Teak wood (Tectona species) is not subject to CITES (rare species import control). They will travel by air and clear customs without delay. Shipping is quoted and subsidized to the US, Canada, Europe and the UK. Within Australia, shipping is free.

Dimensions:

Height: 21.07 in (53.5 cm)Width: 7.88 in (20 cm)Depth: 4.34 in (11 cm)

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Teak,Hand-Carved

Place of Origin:

Bali

Period:

1960-1969

Date of Manufacture:

1968

Condition:

Repaired: Wood glue and wood filler to original fine break in leg of one bird. See images. Very unobtrusive. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor structural damages. Overall very good, wear and tear, they are about fifty years old. In very good condition for their age. Keep away from direct heat sources such as radiators and direct sunlight to maintain condition.

Seller Location:

Melbourne, AU

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU2656336135872

View Invoice