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OUR COLLECTION — AFRICA — MADAGASCAR  393. MODERN HOLY FAMILY

Picture
This Holy Family scene from the island of Madagascar is carved in a modern, simple style. The Malagasy people generally carve in a detailed European style (rather than traditional African styles) because these wood carvers learned their carving style from French Jesuit priests. The wood is palisander, which is from the rosewood family. Palisander is very hard and contains a natural oil as found in rosewood. The Joseph figure measures 8.5 inches high.
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This scene was purchased from a carver named Dada Be (“Grandfather”) in Ambositra, a town in the region of the Betsileo tribe. This town is reputed as the artisan capital of the country, regarded as home of the best Malagasy wood carvings. Several people in the same family will work on each carving. Each person has a specific job: one does a rough outline of the figure; the second person (the best woodworker) does the detailed carving; and then others (often women) will sand, stain, and polish the sculpture.
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