African Shango Double Axe Wooden Sculpture — Handcarved Ceremonial Art

Sacred, symbolic, and beautifully handcarved — this African wooden ceremonial double-headed axe sculpture (Oshe Shango) is a bold, elegant form in pale natural hardwood, its wide double blades spreading symmetrically from a central carved face, bold parallel stripe marks covering the blade surfaces, small carved figures at the blade tips, and a bold geometric-carved cylindrical handle. The Oshe Shango is the sacred emblem of Shango, the Yoruba deity of thunder and lightning — its double-headed axe form a powerful symbol of divine authority, justice, and power. This handcarved example is a masterwork of ceremonial craft — its wide, flat, symmetrical double blades spreading boldly from the central axis, their surfaces covered in bold parallel horizontal stripe marks carved in shallow relief, with small bold carved human or spirit figures standing at the outer tips of each blade. At the centre where the blades meet the handle, a bold serene human face is carved in relief — its broad forehead, gently closed eyes, broad nose, and slightly open mouth rendered with quiet dignity, a small bold crown or knob finial at the very top. The handle is a bold cylindrical form with bold geometric band marks carved in relief at the mid-point and base, tapering to a bold rounded finial at the bottom. The entire sculpture is carved from pale natural hardwood — its surface smooth and even, the carved marks crisp and precise. A work of extraordinary symbolic power, ceremonial beauty, and artisanal craft.

Details

• Original handcarved one-of-a-kind sculpture — not a reproduction
• Carved from pale natural hardwood
• Oshe Shango — sacred double-headed axe of the Yoruba thunder deity
• Bold parallel stripe marks across double blades
• Serene carved face at centre — small figures at blade tips
• Geometric-carved cylindrical handle with rounded finial
• Suitable for display as ceremonial art or collector's piece

Dimensions

• Height: 14 inches
• Width: 9 inches