wooden statuette

Sleek and hand painted in bright colors, Anna Yawson's figurative sculpture is called Ohemaa after the Akan tribe word for "queen." The Ghanaian artisan hand carves the sculpture from local sese wood, painting the woman in hues of orange, green, and blue.

The Yoruba people of West Africa are well-known for their long history of beautiful art. This kind of statuette, called an olumeye, depicts a kneeling woman holding a small carved pot. The pot traditionally held kola nuts, an offering to guests. The word olumeye means "one who knows honor" and refers to the woman, who represents ideals of beauty and hospitality. Ghanaian artisan Henry Acquah hand carves the figure from local sese wood before using paint and clay to give it a natural, rustic finish.

Long tresses tumble across her shoulders as she arches her lithe body in a graceful stretch. Fluid diagonal movement brings unity and balance to this extraordinary sculpture. Using handmade tools, the artisan extracts elegant details from suar wood, resulting in a sensuous feminine portrait.

Named from an Indonesian word for "beautiful," this statuette depicts a willowy woman with long hair and jewelry posing gracefully. Hand-carved by Wayan Rendah, its black finish gives the suar wood form a timeless elegance.

Inspired by traditional Indonesian folklore, Artisan Wayan Rendah crafts this amazing statuette from crocodile wood that tells the tale of Sang Hyan Raith. Dewi Ratih, known for her beauty and grace, is a Hindu goddess worshiped in Java and Bali. The ancient story tells of the demon Kala Rau, who had his plans to attack Vishnu thwarted by the beautiful goddess. Vishnu beheaded Kala Rau, and the head of the beast would chase Dewi Raith every full moon and swallow her whole, but the goddess would gracefully emerge from the demon's neck where his body once was. The story is believed to be the origin of lunar eclipses, and every full moon a ceremony is held in Bali to celebrate the beauty of the moon.

Captivating contours envelop this carving by Wayan Rendah, her sensuality represented with skilled accuracy. Using local suar wood, the artisan studies a woman bathing at the river - the material's grain coursing with fluidity as her hand appears to fuse with her hair.

The voluptuous figure of a woman is carved by hand in this marvelous sculpture. Agnes Amponsah creates the statuette in dark ebony wood with a smooth finish.