Ashanti King & Queen Carved Wood Totem Sculptures from Ghana Africa For Sale

Ashanti King & Queen Carved Wood Totem Mask Sculptures from Ghana, AfricaDESCRIPTION:
These finely decorated hand-carved wood King and Queen Ashanti totem masks hail from Ghana, Africa and will look regal upon your walls. Each mask is over 45 inches tall (the King is 48 inches, the Queen is 45 inches tall), has a carved out backside, and holes cut for the eyes. Hand hammered brass foil sheets are embossed with crested herons on the King and scorpions on the Queen and nailed to the wood surface using handmade brass nails. Colored beads are strung together and formed into the shapes of shore birds and various patterns and embedded in mud. Shells are also embedded in the mud molding and trim. Triangle pieces of brass foil are embedded in the mud trim and to the wood and used to accent the sculptures. Note: some repair work was done on the mud molding of the King totem around the face (see fourth photo). Unfortunately along the bottom, about 2-3 inches of the mud trim and shells are missing (see last photo). TOTEM SPECIFICATIONS:
Ashanti King Totem from Ghana: 48 inches tall, 9-3/4 inches wide, 4-3/4 inches deepWeight: 12 poundsAshanti Queen Totem from Ghana: 45-1/4 inches tall, 12-1/4 inches wide, 6 inches deepWeight: 19 poundsTOTEM MATERIALS:

• Ghana trunk wood of unknown species - hand carved and stained
  
• Brass foil - embossed, cut and form fitted and nailed down using...
  
• Brass nails
• Colorful plastic beads on strings
• River shells
• River mud

GHANA WOOD CARVING:
\"Since ancient times, trees in Ghana were considered dwelling places of supernatural spirits and powers, both benevolent and malevolent. The trees felled for carving were given certain ritual purification rites. When a carver acquired a new set of tools, the tools had to be pacified to solicit good and cordial relations from the spirits. Strong alcoholic drinks were poured on the tools and special libation prayers were offered. In Ghana, the primary woods used in carving are Sese (Holarrhena wulfsbergii) and Tweneboa (Cordia millenii). The tweneboa is a sacred tree. Its name literally means \"drum tree\". It is relatively soft and easy to carve and sometimes already hollow. Other woods used include: Afromosia, Mahogonay, Odum “Iroko”, Cedrela and Sinuro.The wood carvers in Ghana today work 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. They make their own tools out of iron and steel and keep them very sharp.... amazing carving with simple tools, and no fancy vises or fixtures.\" ~from theoldsaw.blogspotHISTORY:
These unique Ghana Ashanti carved wood totem masks were purchased by the late Dr. Philip H. Gray in 1996. Beginning in the late 1960s and until his passing in 2009, Dr. Gray collected a variety of indigenous folk art from around the world. His Estate is now parsing out and selling these collected works. His Estate has other works of indigenous folk art from Papua, New Guinea posted here on . Please peruse. They are all of excellent quality. SHIPPING:
Because these are large, cumbersome and fragile carved wood figures, shipping could be expensive, depending on where they are sent. Expect to pay at least $43.00 on up to $75.00 via UPS Ground. If you cannot afford to ship these totems, please do not offer. Serious inquiries only!Continental sales to the lower 48 states in the USA only please. International shipping and shipping to Canada or Mexico is NOT AVAILABLE! Orders placed from outside the continental USA will not be honored and the totems will be relisted. IMPORTANT NOTES - buyers please read carefully:

• Shipping weight is 60 pounds - packaging materials cost is included in the purchase price.
• This is a large, cumbersome and heavy shipment requiring movement with a dolly (recommended) or handling by two people with strong backs.
• The totems are ready to ship in one large 60\" x 16\" x 16\" double walled reinforced cardboard container.
• Insurance is included in the purchase price.
• The buyer/winning buyer must sign for the package upon arrival. Your signature is absolutely required!
  
• Any special delivery clarifications must be made during the transaction - please email the seller (such as deliver to back door, etc).
  
• Buyer/winning buyer is responsible for contacting the delivery service and making arrangements to be on site during delivery (most likely UPS).
  
• The buyer/winning buyer is responsible for any extra fees, taxes and / or delivery costs upon delivery.
  
• Buyer/winning buyer is responsible for moving the totems indoors, unpacking, and making sure the totems are NOT DAMAGED from shipping upon removal from packaging. Please make note of the current condition of the totems, especially the broken mud and shell trim around the bottom base of the King Totem (see images).
  
• Buyer/winning buyer must open the package immediately and make note of possible damage to the items from shipping and handling, if any. Buyer/winning buyer is responsible for filing any reports with the delivery service (most likely UPS).
  
• The seller / Estate cannot handle any problems once the totems are delivered. Once you have signed for the totems upon delivery they are the property of the buyer/winning buyer. The seller / Estate will however, assist if there are any problems DURING shipment.
  
• The seller / Estate cannot take any returns regarding this purchase.
  
• The seller / Estate is not responsible for any damage during delivery, including during unpacking the totems.
  
• Please read the following instructions carefully to insure safe unpacking of your totems!
  

OPENING THE SHIPPING CONTAINER INSTRUCTIONS (print this page or have a partner read the instructions aloud).

You will need:

1. Dolly or two strong backs to move the package

2. Box cutter with fresh new blade

3. Envelope opener (not needed but highly recommended)

4. Sharp scissors

5. Soft surface to place the container on for unpacking such as a bed or sofa. A soft carpeted floor can be used also. Unpacking the totems on a hard surface is not recommended.

6. Lots of patience

UNPACKING PROCEDURE: - for best results follow to the letter!

• Maneuver the package onto either a bed or sofa. Gently lay the container on it\'s side on this soft surface.
• Do not drop the container or allow it to fall over if standing it upright (easiest to deliver or move upright using a dolly). Gently lay the container on it\'s side before opening the box following the instructions.
  
• Open the package by cutting along the side corner of the container where strapping tape runs along the entire corner edge (note instructions on box) using a sharp box cutter knife (cut along the dotted lines). Then cut around the \"top\" and bottom of the container through cardboard using a box cutter (also following the dotted lines). Be careful not to cut your soft surface bedding or upholstery the package is resting on.
  
• Open the container sides, top and bottom by opening like a clamshell, peeling back the sides, top and bottom. Pull out and discard the inside reinforcing corners and heavy-duty side panels and various foam pieces and peanuts. The totems are wrapped in two layers of impact foam rubber, held together with tape.
  
• The envelope opener is the best device to use to cut the tape on the foam packing. Gently cut the tape holding down the foam using the envelope opener. If you do not have one, use a sharp scissors. Do not force a scissors under the tape as it may jab the carvings underneath. Snip at the tape from the tapes edges. It\'s not recommended to use the box cutter to cut the tape. Gently roll the package back and forth as you cut the tape and remove the pieces of foam padding from one end to the other. You may also be able to just peel away the tape, however you will end up with a pile of sticky tape!
  
• Carefully remove each piece of soft dark grey outer foam padding until you reach the inner white \"firmer\" foam padding.
  
• Next remove the firmer white foam padding the same way until you reach the plastic wrapped totems. The totems are wrapped in stretch plastic back-to-back to capture any \"broken\" pieces that may have broken or fallen off during shipment and to hold the totems firmly together.
  
• Carefully slice or snip the plastic wrap along the edge between the backs of each mask starting at the bottom and working up to the top. You will want the masks to be laying on a soft surface while you gently slice and peel away the plastic wrap.
  
• Stand up each totem after removing the wrap. Do not let go fof the totem, they will not stand up on their own. Inspect each totem for damage from shipping. If there are no loose pieces captured by the plastic wrap, success, the totems are intact! If there are loose pieces they can be carefully glued back in place using ordinary Elmer\'s glue. We recommend you hire an art restoration professional to repair any damage caused during shipping.

DISPLAYING YOUR ASHANTI TOTEMS:

• There is thick wiring securely mounted on the backs of each totem so that they can be hung on a wall or sturdy surface.
  
• Make sure you use strong picture hanging hooks that are deeply embedded in the wall\'s structure (the wood 2 x 4 studs) beneath the surface. Use a stud finder to locate the studs. The totems do not have perpendicular bottoms and CANNOT be stood up on their own. Repeat...
  
• THE TOTEMS WILL NOT STAND ON THEIR OWN! They must be hung from a wall. IF THE TOTEMS fall over they can suffer severe damage to their fragile mud decorations and ornamentation.
  

CARING FOR YOUR ASHANTI TOTEMS:

• You may periodically dust the totems using a clean soft bristle painting brush, and / or a can of compressed air.
  
• DO NOT USE A VACUUM CLEANER!
  
• DO NOT USE A SPONGE, MOIST OR WET RAG to clean the totems. They are glued together using mud, the mud could disintegrate if it gets wet.
  
• DO NOT USE DETERGENTS OR HARSH CHEMICAL CLEANERS!
• DO NOT USE METAL POLISHERS on the brass foil.
  
• Feather dusters are not recommended as the feathers can catch on fine edges and get caught, removing them could catch on some of the decorations and ornamentation, causing damage.
• Mount your totems indoors, out of the weather, away from the sun and away from areas of high traffic. They stick out quite a way from the wall and bumping into them not only hurts, but could knock the totems off the wall and damage them.
  

DISCLAIMER
Due to the fragile nature of these primitive works of art, we cannot guarantee arrival in perfect or near perfect condition. We will however, fully inspect, very carefully pack and ship your purchase with every effort on our part to provide you with the sculpture as described. We make every effort to provide detailed descriptions and clear images and any information related to any possible damage prior to shipping, however minor.Each piece of Ghana Ashanti folk art is entirely unique. Due to the primitive and rather crude nature of the carvings, the sculptures may exhibit cracks, may be missing shells or other adornments such as feathers or beads, may have areas of discolored or worn-off \"paint\", may be missing some crude metal ornamentation and may appear \"broken\" or \"unfinished\" when that is often simply the way that they are made, or the condition in which they were originally acquired by the collector. These so-called \"flaws\" however, make them appealing because they are all hand made and as individual as the carvers who create them. Each carving is a singular work of art and is sold \"as is.\"