Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Safari Animals in Wood



The first time I saw the perfectly shaped wooden , rhinocerous I could almost hear it splashing in the water of a stream in Africa.

It had ears, horns, and sturdy legs carrying a round, heavy body.

Nearby was a mama elephant with her darling baby beneath her trunk. Again, the wood carving had been done by an expert because the final product looked like real elephants but in miniature. However, instead of wrinkly flesh, their bodies had been carved out of wood.

Nuns ran the gift shop where I first found the wooden animals. 

     "What a great collection these would make," my brain told me. "These animals would make perfect gifts for my husband."

Upon receiving my paycheck from the job I had at that time in my life, one by one, I bought a perfectly carved animal. A giraffe and scary-looking lion joined the rhino and elephants.
Then came graceful gazelles. 

African tribal men came across my path at yard sales. They were perfectly suited to watch over the jungle animals.
So, that's how the wooden animal collection on our mantle began. It was one purchase at a time until the mini safari group was completed. I'm grateful to all the woodcarvers who fashioned these unique art forms. Most had a "Made in Kenya" sticker on them.

The animals traveled with us to the southwest and are now on the mantle in Massachusetts so they are very well traveled.




DO YOU HAVE ANY WOODEN ANIMALS?

11 comments:

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Good morning, Susan!

This is a gorgeous collection! I love the way they looks displayed together! They are beautifully carved!

Pretty tea cup and saucer in your last post too!

Nice stopping by!
Kindly, ldh

Chatty Crone said...

Good Morning Susan,

I love that wooden collection. It looks amazing on your mantle there.

It's funny have things add up one piece at a time.

I have a great place for that in my house too - lol.

Let's see - I don't think I have anything wooden like that - but I do have a marble elephant, a glass tiger, and a glass bull from Venice - the glass factory there.

Love,
sandie

ClassyChassy said...

Hi - no wooden animals, but I've got plenty of LIVE ones!!! That is quite the collection you have - a great display!

Carolyn said...

That is a lovely collection of wooden animals-unique!
I don't have any myself but they do look lovely on your mantle.
I also love that china teacup below-beautiful!
Take care,
Carolyn
p.s. I love the statue of that woman too.

diane stetson said...

Hi Susan
These are great but what I'd like to do is go on a REAL Safari like my friend Sandra did. Now that would be an adventure!

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

My sister has a very nice collection of wooden animals. I love yours!

Susan said...

Dear LDH, Sandie, Classy Chassy, Carolyn, Diane, and Dayle: How nice of each of you to stop by and to leave comments, too. That means a lot to me! I've been gone all day and evening so it's wonderful to come home, log on, and see that people stopped by. Hope you all come again soon. Sincerely, Susan

Adrienne said...

It always amazes me how they manage to carve with the grain of the wood. The gazelles are my favorite...

Susan said...

Hi Adrienne! You are right. It's truly amazing the objects of beauty that people can carve out of a piece of wood! I love the gazelles, too. Thanks for coming over! Come back soon! Sincerely, Susan

Anonymous said...

I used to keep a lot of wood carved animals when I was 'safari' decorating the entire place here, they made wonderful drawing objects...I'd set them up in different positions, and just drew the night away to my hearts content!

your collection is marvelous! I ended up parting with my elephants...in a yard sale, but now someone else is enjoying them, I'm sure!

ciao susan....

always carmelina

Susan said...

Thanks for visiting, Carmelina. Oh, I would have a hard time parting with my animals. ha! You are right that someone else is probably enjoying them. Take care, dear Carmelina. Sincerely, Susan

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