Strange statue

Royston · 10th May 2017, 08:35 AM

Does anyone have a clue to the origin of this ?
Dense hardwood.
Approx 17" / 43cm tall.

I cannot find any references to a woman with a mans head on her back. The faces appear European but who knows?

All suggestions welcome.
Thanks
Roy

Bob A · 10th May 2017, 09:26 PM

Salome with the head of John the Baptist, perhaps?

I was thinking German, Black Forest area, but not for any articulable reason.

Royston · 10th May 2017, 10:03 PM

I did consider Salome, but almost every image shows her with John's head on a plate.

Rick · 11th May 2017, 02:34 AM

I can't really see whether the woman is holding the head .
Is she?

Royston · 11th May 2017, 07:40 AM

Rick

Her arms disappear into the mans hair so it's not really clear.

The only choices seem to be that either she is holding the head, it is growing out of her back in some alien way or that she is wearing it as an ornament like coleridges Ancient Mariner.

Roy

thinreadline · 12th May 2017, 07:58 AM

it does look like one of those Black Forest lightwood carvings so is it possible that it depicts a German fairy tale or legend ?
Here is a possibility ...
The Rose-Elf by Hans Christian Anderson (Fairy Tales 1839)
A young woman’s lover is stabbed to death, beheaded, and buried, by her wicked and possessive brother. After committing the murder, the brother is described as ‘entering the beautiful, blooming girl’s bedroom as she lies dreaming of her lover, and bending over her, laughing hideously as only a fiend can laugh as he does so’. This could mean he just stands at the foot of her bed and laughs, but it could also represent something a lot more sinister.As the brother was burying the corpse, a dry leaf settled in his hair. A tiny elf, who witnessed the brutal act, hid under this leaf, which then settled on the girl’s bed as her brother ‘bent over her’. The elf climbs into the girl’s ear, tells her of her lover’s murder, and informs her where the body lies. The girl wakes up, broken-hearted, and goes into the woods to dig up her lover’s head. She shakes the earth out of his hair, kisses his cold, dead lips, and carries the severed head home with her.

colin henshaw · 16th May 2017, 11:50 AM

In a way it almost reminds me of sculptures by Paul Gauguin. So maybe a hobbyist wanting to emulate his style ??

10th May 2017, 08:35 AM	#1
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	Strange statue Does anyone have a clue to the origin of this ? Dense hardwood. Approx 17" / 43cm tall. I cannot find any references to a woman with a mans head on her back. The faces appear European but who knows? All suggestions welcome. Thanks Roy Attached Images

12th May 2017, 07:58 AM	#6
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	it does look like one of those Black Forest lightwood carvings so is it possible that it depicts a German fairy tale or legend ? Here is a possibility ... The Rose-Elf by Hans Christian Anderson (Fairy Tales 1839) A young woman’s lover is stabbed to death, beheaded, and buried, by her wicked and possessive brother. After committing the murder, the brother is described as ‘entering the beautiful, blooming girl’s bedroom as she lies dreaming of her lover, and bending over her, laughing hideously as only a fiend can laugh as he does so’. This could mean he just stands at the foot of her bed and laughs, but it could also represent something a lot more sinister.As the brother was burying the corpse, a dry leaf settled in his hair. A tiny elf, who witnessed the brutal act, hid under this leaf, which then settled on the girl’s bed as her brother ‘bent over her’. The elf climbs into the girl’s ear, tells her of her lover’s murder, and informs her where the body lies. The girl wakes up, broken-hearted, and goes into the woods to dig up her lover’s head. She shakes the earth out of his hair, kisses his cold, dead lips, and carries the severed head home with her. Attached Images Last edited by thinreadline; 12th May 2017 at 08:11 AM.

16th May 2017, 11:50 AM	#7
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	In a way it almost reminds me of sculptures by Paul Gauguin. So maybe a hobbyist wanting to emulate his style ?? Attached Images

10th May 2017, 09:26 PM	#2
Bob A Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 427	Salome with the head of John the Baptist, perhaps? I was thinking German, Black Forest area, but not for any articulable reason.

10th May 2017, 10:03 PM	#3
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	I did consider Salome, but almost every image shows her with John's head on a plate.

11th May 2017, 02:34 AM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	I can't really see whether the woman is holding the head . Is she?

11th May 2017, 07:40 AM	#5
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	Rick Her arms disappear into the mans hair so it's not really clear. The only choices seem to be that either she is holding the head, it is growing out of her back in some alien way or that she is wearing it as an ornament like coleridges Ancient Mariner. Roy