South African Zulu-Attributed Carved Wooden Footed Bowl, Hand-Carved Hardwood, Mid-20th Century Tourist Market Production

Small carved wooden footed bowl or shallow meat tray, attributed to Zulu carving traditions of South Africa. The form follows the well-known southern African domestic serving vessels commonly produced in hardwood with elevated block feet and an oval basin. Examples of this type were made both for local domestic use and, increasingly during the mid-to-late twentieth century, for the tourist and export market.
The restrained sculptural form and darkened exterior surface reflect the influence of traditional regional carving practices.

Carved from a single piece of hardwood and finished with a polished interior surface displaying attractive natural grain variation. The exterior retains visible hand-tool shaping and honest handling wear consistent with age and use.            The object presents well as a decorative ethnographic wooden object and remains collectable within the broader field of southern African carved domestic wares and tourist-market production.

Circa:
Mid-20th century

Provenance:
Egon Guenther Collection, by family descent to Thomas Guenther Collection

Measurements:
Length: 19.0 cm
Width: 16.5 cm
Height: 7.5 cm

Weight:
334 g