Japanese Burl Wood Figure

Part sculpture, part found object, this hand-carved figure makes the most of the timber it came from. Rather than carving against the grain, the maker has embraced the natural knots, burrs and twisted growth, allowing the wood itself to dictate the form.
 
The smooth, ridged head sits loosely on the neck and lifts away, introducing an element of surprise to an otherwise quietly contemplative figure. It feels almost mask-like, while the heavily textured body blurs the line between human form and tree root.
 
Darkly patinated with decades of handling and age, it's one of those objects that's difficult to place neatly into a category. Folk art, studio sculpture or simply an exercise in seeing a figure where nature had already begun one—it doesn't really matter. It has exactly the kind of odd presence that rewards a second look.
 
Condition: Excellent
Size: W 13cm x D 9cm x H 20.5cm