Mid-Century Balinese Hand-Carved Wood Elderly Farmer Couple Busts, Pair

Details

Description

A wonderfully expressive matched pair of vintage hand-carved wooden busts from Bali, Indonesia, depicting an elderly rural man and woman.

… Read more A wonderfully expressive matched pair of vintage hand-carved wooden busts from Bali, Indonesia, depicting an elderly rural man and woman.

Rather than the serene ceremonial figures frequently encountered in Balinese decorative carving, this pair has remarkable personality. Each face is carved with deeply defined age lines, hollow cheeks and an intentionally weathered expression. The male is depicted with a moustache and partially open mouth, while the female has a long, slender face and similarly expressive features.

Both wear broad, intricately carved hats patterned to resemble overlapping woven or natural material. The carving continues around the figures, including detailed hair, necks and modeled backs.

Their lean physiques and prominent ribs suggest rural or agricultural figures, making elderly farmer couple a reasonable descriptive interpretation while avoiding attribution to a specific traditional character.

Both sculptures are inscribed to the underside:

“MD. DOLANG / BALI”

Artist unknown.

The pair appears consistent with Bali’s mid-century decorative wood-carving tradition and is likely circa 1960s–1970s.

Carved from a richly grained tropical hardwood with a warm brown and dark rubbed finish.

Displayed together, the two figures have an unusually strong presence despite their relatively compact scale. They would work beautifully in a collected interior, study, bookshelf display, global-inspired room or alongside other Southeast Asian folk and decorative art.

Dimensions & Weights

Male — approximately 6”H × 3¾–4”W
Female — approximately 6”H × 4¼”W
Combined Weight — 1 lb 10.6 oz See less