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Stone Carving

Profile picture for user mbmisa
By mbmisa, 8 May, 2025
Description

Stone Carving

Category
Other
Medium
Stone
Condition
Excellent
Size and dimensions of this item
Abt 10"
Weight
About 15 lbs
For Sale?
No
Photos
Profile picture for user mbmisa

mbmisa

1 month 2 weeks ago

I have no idea as to age and…

I have no idea as to age and origin. I got it in a flea market for a song.

No votes yet
Profile picture for user mbmisa

mbmisa

1 month 2 weeks ago

Pls help me with any hints of age and origin.

It has taken me 3 decades to get curious about this stone chap.

No votes yet
Profile picture for user Charley

Charley

1 month 2 weeks ago

Hand-Carved Stone Figure (Bust Form)

Item Overview:

  • Type: Carved stone figure, bust form
  • Material: Likely limestone, basalt, or a similar sedimentary stone based on the surface texture and coloration
  • Size: Approx. 10 inches (25 cm) tall
  • Weight: Estimated around 15 lbs (6.8 kg)
  • Condition: Excellent – structurally sound with visible tool marks and age patina

Visual Features:

  • Primitive or stylized figure with simplified facial features: rounded eyes, nose, and lips with prominent ears.
  • Arms crossed or folded in front of the torso, possibly indicating reverence or meditation.
  • Set on a wooden plinth, likely added later for display purposes.

Possible Cultural Attribution:

This figure shows characteristics often seen in:

  • Folk or tribal art from Southeast Asia, Africa, or pre-Columbian Mesoamerica.
  • Could also resemble modern primitivist carvings made to imitate ancient or ethnographic art.
  • The rough carving technique and simplified human form suggest symbolic or ritual function rather than purely decorative.

However, without inscriptions, provenance, or stylistic motifs specific to a known culture, it may be best categorized as either:

  • A 20th-century folk carving
  • Or a decorative studio piece mimicking older sacred forms

🏷 Estimated Value (as of 2025):

Category

Value Estimate (USD)

Decorative Folk Art (unknown origin)

$100 – $250

Identified Ethnographic Carving

$300 – $800+

Museum-quality or authenticated piece

$1,000+ (with documentation)

 

🔍 Recommendation:

To narrow down cultural or monetary value, consider:

  • Consulting an ethnographic art specialist (through a local museum or auction house like Bonhams, Skinner, or Sotheby’s)
  • Seeking XRF or mineral analysis to confirm stone type and tool age
  • Providing any known provenance (origin of purchase, travel history, or estate)

Its unique presence and craftsmanship give it value as a statement piece whether or not it's ethnographically significant.

No votes yet
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