HEART-ON FOR WOOD: Move and Be Moved

Plump painted lips, bright eyes brimming with life, agile limbs poised for action. Ironically, this week’s roundup of wood sculptures with moving joints from VandM.com might just be heavier hitting than your last night’s date. Can such visceral sensations possibly originate from stiff, dead, age-old wood? Bring one home (or take one out) to find out just how close to life sculpture can get.

Four Foot Tall Latin American Virgin Santos from Dealer Vintage Views

A sophisticated lady hailing from late 19th to 20th century Mexico or Central America, #11212 has a certain elegance to her carriage and, she’s not afraid to admit, an age-appropriate patina. A worldly lady such as she comes with a past; you’ll notice a crack on the top of her pedestal and through her underside but she’s strong of heart and sound of soul. If you’re itching to see her nimble arms bend gracefully at shoulder and elbow, make an appointment to see her in our client’s gallery in Westchester County, New York. Then take her somewhere with soft candlelight; a heartfelt compliment to her carved cherubs and polychrome paint will do the trick.

Santo Antique French Bastidor Madonna from Dealer Hacienda

San Jose - Spanish Santos Figure from Dealer Circa Trade

But perhaps you’re not looking for commitment just now. If a night of lively dancing is more your style, #93840 can treat you to reminiscences of a charming 19th-century French cancan if you look deeply into her shining glass eyes and dangling earrings. Woo her with a red rose to match her painted blouse and pouting lips. That is, if you can steal her away from #7464, a dashing 20th-century Spaniard whose knowledge of the avant-garde Federico García Lorca will put you to shame. For a conversation starter, read up on Lorca’s exhumation here and prove you’re au courant. Despite her flirtatious eyes and rosy cheeks, she’s a sucker for intelligent debate.

Burmese Healling Doll from Dealer Albert Joseph Gallery

Or maybe you’ve just suffered from a bad breakup, and you need some advice. Look no further than #45611, a striking early 20th-century Burmese healer who knows how to pull himself together with only string and lacquer. Ask him to banish your heartache and he’ll perform a ritual to relieve pain, possibly curing your congestion and lingering headache at the same time. If you hit it off, he’ll be your puppet on a tour of his native Shan State, where the Intha people live in floating villages on the famous Inle Lake and 6,226 Buddha images are painted on the vast Pindaya limestone caves near Aungban. Dreams of exotic lands will help dry your tears if you doubt his mysterious healing talents.

Hanno the Gorilla from David Weeks Studios

Finally, for a walk on the wild side, head over to Areaware and ask out David Weeks Studio’s Hanno the Gorilla. Even though he’s only 12 inches tall, he’s brave and adventurous and not afraid to strike a pose with his powerful beech limbs joined with elastic. Don’t worry ladies, he’s got a little brother in Hanno Jr., likewise named after the Greek explorer said to have discovered gorillas back in 500 BC. At just 8 ½ inches tall, his courage surpasses his size. And they’ve got cousins to spare, with Ursa the Bear and Ursa Minor boasting similar dimensions in beech as well as the ability to read your love’s fate in the starry constellations they’re named after.

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This article is writen by Meghan Edwards is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Interior Design and Metropolis magazines. She has worked in Special Collections at Christie’s and presently holds a full-time editorial position at Interior Design. Born and raised in rural Washington State, she graduated from Brown University in 2006 with a BA in the History of Art and Architecture. Ms. Edwards has studied and worked in France and Portugal and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.