beautiful sculptures

Ghanaian artisan Salihu Ibrahim creates a jovial expression with this beautiful African mask. Carved from sese wood, it depicts a smiling man with intricately placed details. The carving method used requires much dedication over a period of several weeks.

Ghanaian artisan Salihu Ibrahim creates a jovial expression with this beautiful African mask. Carved from sese wood, it depicts a smiling woman with intricately placed details. The carving method used requires much dedication over a period of several weeks.

Inspired by the Songye people of central Africa, Ghanaian artisan Salihu Ibrahim hand-carves this beautiful sese wood African mask. It depicts a woman's shape with a stoic expression. The Songye people are world renowned for their wood carving skills.

Thoughtful eyes ponder the questions of life in a peaceful visage. centreed by a knot, the forehead reveals intricate textures that also encircle the eyes. Juliana Akandas designs a beautiful mask, sculpted and painted by hand. "Life is a process involving many issues, which are not isolated but rather interwoven like a knot," she muses. "It requires wisdom to solve the problems of life."

The Yoruba people of West Africa are well-known for their long history of beautiful art. This kind of statuette, called an olumeye, depicts a kneeling woman holding a small carved pot. The pot traditionally held kola nuts, an offering to guests. The word olumeye means "one who knows honor" and refers to the woman, who represents ideals of beauty and hospitality. Ghanaian artisan Henry Acquah hand carves the figure from local sese wood before using paint and clay to give it a natural, rustic finish.