African Mami Wata Mermaid Spirit — Handcarved Wooden Sculpture

Mysterious, powerful, and alive with water spirit energy — this handcarved African wooden sculpture depicts Mami Wata, the great water spirit of West African tradition — a serene human upper body with bold pointed ears, holding two staffs or oars, her lower body a bold sweeping serpentine tail curling into a dramatic open loop, all mounted on a bold zigzag-carved rectangular base, carved in rich deep dark brown hardwood with extraordinary sculptural fluidity and expressive power. The figure is a masterwork of figurative carving — her upper body beautifully modelled with a serene, composed face — bold arched brows, narrow deeply set eyes with a calm, half-closed expression, a broad nose, and a slightly parted mouth — crowned by a smooth round head with bold fine crosshatch marks at the back suggesting close-cropped hair or a woven cap. Her bold pointed ears flare outward on either side. Her torso is bare and beautifully modelled, her shoulders broad and strong, her arms reaching outward and downward to grasp two bold cylindrical staffs or oars — one at each side. Below the waist, her body transforms into a bold sweeping serpentine tail — its smooth, sinuous form curling forward and downward in a dramatic open loop that rests on the base, creating a bold negative space at the centre of the composition. The base is a bold rectangular block with bold incised zigzag or wave marks covering its surface — a fitting symbol of the water realm. The entire sculpture is carved from rich deep dark brown hardwood — its surface smooth and polished where the body is carved and richly textured at the base and head. A work of extraordinary sculptural beauty, mythic power, and cultural depth.

Details

• Original handcarved one-of-a-kind sculpture — not a reproduction
• Carved from rich deep dark brown hardwood — polished finish
• Subject: Mami Wata — West African water spirit with serpentine tail
• Bold sweeping tail curling into dramatic open loop
• Holds two staffs or oars — bold pointed ears
• Bold zigzag-carved rectangular base — freestanding
• A powerful collector's piece or bold interior statement

Dimensions

• Height: 14 inches
• Width: 6 inches