A Pair Of Carved Corozo Nut Grotesque Heads, European Folk Art, 19th Century

Pair of sculpted heads in finely carved corozo nut, depicting two grotesque male heads wearing pointed caps, the backs hollowed out.
French or European folk work. 19th century.
H_10.5 cm
Good overall condition.

Highly prized by turners and sculptors in the 19th century for its density, hardness and ability to take on a remarkable polish close to ivory or boxwood, the corozo nut was used to create precious small objects of skill and curiosity. Sculpted with great pictorial finesse, these grotesque heads make perfect use of the nut's natural shape while revealing a warm, deep patina.

Our pair of sculpted nut heads, part of the charming tradition of 19th-century folk art curiosity objects, testifies to the virtuosity of sculptors working on micro-woods and vegetable materials, combining the expressiveness of the faces with the natural beauty of the material.