I think these hand-carved and stained wooden figures are exquisitely elegant, super tender and just completely lovely. The faces! The postures! The palette! I have not been able to find anything quite like them online, but have a slight hunch they may be Korean and would guess they date from the 1940s or early 50s. With their varied heights running in pairs, it seems possible that they were chess pieces—if so, what an amazing set they would have made! And with their wonderfully specific garments, it also seems that the figures represent different cultures—some seem South American, others Asian, and then there is the child next to a totem pole. I would display these in a special spot--they will completely light up the room.
This is a set of 11. The tallest figures measure 5 1/4" tall with a diameter of 1 1/2" at base; the smallest are 3” tall, with a 7/8" diameter. There is some loss of stain along edges of the carving, which I think just adds to their charm, and a split in the wood down the front of the pants of the largest male figure, documented in photos.
*Box pictured in photos sold separately.
