Vintage Mid-Century Balinese Modernist Mother and Child – 13-Inch Macassar Ebony Carving

Details

Description

An absolutely exquisite, investment-grade example of mid-century Balinese modernism, this striking 13-inch sculpture beautifully captures a serene maternal vignette of … Read more An absolutely exquisite, investment-grade example of mid-century Balinese modernism, this striking 13-inch sculpture beautifully captures a serene maternal vignette of a kneeling mother holding her child close to her chest. Carved from a single, exceptionally heavy block of premium two-toned Macassar ebony heartwood, the piece showcases a masterful level of smooth, fluid contours and deep three-dimensional form. The figures exhibit an extraordinary aesthetic rhythm, where the pitch-black heartwood columns seamlessly contrast with rich, copper-caramel mineral streaks that loop elegantly across their bodies and sashes under gallery lights.

The sculpture features fascinating, fully intentional artistic detailing and authentic vintage character. The reverse profile of the mother's elaborate headdress displays a beautifully stylized, asymmetrical hair design. Rather than a commercial breakdown, the carver intentionally sculpted a collection of sharp, upturned curls on one profile before fluidly transitioning the wood mass into a smooth, cascading wave on the left, naturally blending the design elements flush into her neck to suit the organic geometry of the original wood block. The left side of her face exhibits a fine, fully stable vertical wood grain line running across the temple and facial plane, adding beautiful material authenticity.

The underside of the base holds an excellent layer of historic provenance. Hand-incised directly into the smooth under-slab is an elegant, stylized archival catalog registry mark that reads: "Cal / Y181011." This subtle, crisp inscription confirms the sculpture's historical inclusion within a private estate tracking system or specific collection registry, adding exceptional pedigree to its collector value without altering the clean frontal lines of the artwork. Unsigned as is traditional for elite gallery-tier private studio-class artworks from the golden post-war Ubud renaissance, this heirloom-grade masterpiece is hand-burnished to a glass-smooth satin sheen. Standing with perfect 90-degree stability on an integrated flat base, this rare decorative treasure offers an elite, highly unique focal accent for luxury bookshelves, executive mantles, or high-end ethnographic art collections.

Physical Dimensions

Height: 13 Inches

Width: 3 Inches

Depth: 4 ½ Inches

Condition Report

Fine Vintage Condition. This monumental 13-inch mid-century sculpture stands in excellent structural gallery condition, showing a deep, glowing hand-burnished satin luster. The premium Macassar ebony wood cells are entirely stable and rigid, with absolutely zero mechanical transit breaks, chips, or loose repairs. A forensic visual inspection reveals a thin, natural vertical grain line check running down the left temple and facial plane, featuring a small, shallow native cell pocket characteristic of old-growth tropical timber; this area is completely stable and non-expanding. The reverse crown features a masterfully executed, asymmetrical hair termination technique where the carver intentionally sculpted the flowing strands to adapt perfectly to the raw log's shape. The flat underside is immaculately preserved, showcasing a beautifully chiseled, authentic vintage collection inscription reading "Cal / Y181011". The base provides superb display stability. See less