A stately and rare African sculpture of a Kalao / Hornbill from the Senufo people of northern Cote d’Ivoire.
Only ancestral specialized artisan tribal members dedicate their lives to creating art for the Senufo.
Sculptures are hand-carved from a solid piece of wood and clad with brass or copper metal . . . and then hand etched throughout to represent feathers.
The Senufo believe that the Hornbill was one of the first living creatures symbolizing intellectual power and, thus, represent significant knowledge.
Unsure of age but most likely late 1900s.
A rare find in very good condition.