Bidspirit auction | Two African Carved Wooden Elephant

Two African Carved Wooden Elephant Figures - This lot comprises two hand-carved wooden items featuring elephant motifs, characteristic of 20th-century East African export ware, likely produced by Kamba or Makonde artisans. The first item is a decorative figure carved from a dense, two-tone hardwood, possibly African blackwood or ebony, showcasing a natural contrast between dark heartwood and lighter sapwood. The elephant is depicted with its trunk wrapped around a vertical pillar and features light-coloured inlays for the eyes, tusks, and toenails. The base is decorated with a textured cross-hatched pattern and a geometric border. The second item is a pedestal stand or small stool carved from a medium-brown wood, featuring an elephant supporting a flat circular top. It stands on a base with a radial sunburst carved pattern and includes inset light-coloured tusks. Both pieces represent the commercial carvings produced for the souvenir and export market during the mid-to-late 20th century.