Monumental Mid-Century Two-Tone Macassar Ebony Balinese Harvest Maiden & Water Carrier Sculptures – Pair

Details

Description

An extraordinary, exhibition-scale pair of matching mid-century Balinese modernist realism sculptures depicting a traditional Market Woman and a Water Carrier. … Read more An extraordinary, exhibition-scale pair of matching mid-century Balinese modernist realism sculptures depicting a traditional Market Woman and a Water Carrier. Standing a monumental 24 inches and 19 1/2 inches tall respectively, this investment-grade set is hand-carved from highly dense, remarkably heavy premium Macassar ebony wood, showcasing the peak artistic renaissance of the post-war Mas carving community.
The figures display a breathtaking command of organic timber geometry and deliberate artistic counter-balance. The master artisan brilliantly aligned the wood's natural grain, allowing a prominent, vibrant ribbon of warm honey-sapwood to sweep down the left side of the Market Woman and the right side of the Water Carrier—perfectly mirroring each other when displayed side-by-side.
The larger harvest maiden wears a wide-brimmed sun hat (Caping) and cradled under her arm is a beautifully textured traditional market basket overflowing with harvested tropical fruit. Her companion figure stands in a graceful walking posture, balancing a beautifully turned ceremonial water vessel (Kendi) atop her head with one arm raised in an elegant geometric curve. Both statues feature serene, meditative downcast expressions and smooth, hand-polished surface contours that yield an extraordinary, mirror-like depth. Unsigned as was characteristic of many masterworks from this peak post-war era, this monumental pair represents a definitive pinnacle of collective Balinese folk art.

Art Movement: Balinese Modernist Realism / Mid-Century Master Era

Region of Origin: Mas, Ubud District, Bali, Indonesia

Artist: Unsigned Master Carver

Material: Solid Premium Two-Tone Macassar Ebony Wood

Condition: Exceptional vintage condition; pristine structural lines; entirely complete and free of any chips, splits, cracks, or repairs across both monumental figures; beautifully hydrated to a magnificent satin gallery luster.

Dimensions & Specifications

Sculpture 1 (Market Woman): 24" H x 5 1/4" W x 4" D
Sculpture 2 (Water Carrier): 19 1/2" H x 4" W x 3 1/4" D

Estimated Era

Circa 1950s–1960s (The Golden Age of Realism)
The incredible focus on capturing elevated everyday village abundance combined with the monumental scale, fluid anatomical accuracy, and mirrored wood utilization perfectly reflects the elite exhibition pieces carved for international collectors during the post-war Balinese renaissance. See less