Large 18.5" Mid-Century Two-Tone Macassar Ebony Balinese Offering Maiden Sculpture

Details

Description

An extraordinary, gallery-scale mid-century Balinese modernist realism sculpture depicting a temple maiden carrying a sacred ceremonial offering. Standing an impressive … Read more An extraordinary, gallery-scale mid-century Balinese modernist realism sculpture depicting a temple maiden carrying a sacred ceremonial offering. Standing an impressive 18.5 inches tall and hand-carved from a single, remarkably dense block of solid premium Macassar ebony wood, this investment-grade masterwork represents a definitive pinnacle of post-war Indonesian Art Deco.
The sculpture showcases a breathtaking command of organic timber geometry and deliberate color mapping. The master artisan perfectly aligned the wood's natural composition, allowing a broad, vibrant ribbon of warm caramelized honey sapwood to sweep across her right arm, shoulder, chest, and her tiered offering vessel, creating an exquisite contrast against the deep charcoal and jet-black heartwood. The maiden features a beautifully elongated silhouette, with one arm trailing down her side while her right arm forms a sharp geometric curve to balance a lidded offering container on her shoulder. Her attire is heavily textured with intricately incised traditional textile scrolling, balancing her serene, smooth facial profiles and towering floral headdress. The underside displays authentic, heavy hand-faceted chisel marks. Preserved in pristine gallery condition, the piece features an immaculate surface luster with absolutely no cracks, chips, or restorations.

Art Movement: Balinese Modernist Art Deco / High-Minimalist Style

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

Artist: Unsigned Master Carver

Material: Solid Premium Two-Tone Macassar Ebony Wood

Condition: Pristine vintage condition; 100% structurally complete; entirely free of chips, splits, checking, or past repairs; hand-polished to a spectacular, mirror-like satin luster.

Dimensions
Height: 18 1/2 inches
Width: 3 1/2 inches
Depth: 2 3/4 inches

Estimated Era
Circa 1950s–1960s (The Golden Post-War Renaissance)
The extreme, fluid vertical lines of the figure combined with the tight geometric incisions on the textile sarong and the heavy, solid wood volume perfectly isolate this piece to the peak of the mid-century modern Balinese export boom. See less