Carved Wood Giraffe Bookends with C. Ncube Signature

Description

This pair of bookends is carved from dense, dark hardwood into the graceful forms of a mother giraffe bent low to nuzzle her calf, the sweeping curve of her neck forming a natural open loop above the calf’s back. Each half stands on its own oval base, and the two pieces separate to hold books upright, as demonstrated here supporting a hardcover reference volume, or can be displayed together as a single sculptural grouping. Signature/marking present as shown; attribution not verified. Inquire for details.

The wood carries a rich, worn brown patina built up through hand-finishing and handling over time, with fine tool marks still visible along the legs and bodies of the animals. A name, “C NCUBE,” is incised into the underside of one base in hand-carved script. The undersides show the raw, unfinished grain of the wood, while all visible surfaces have been smoothed and polished to a soft sheen.

Overall condition is solid, with light surface wear consistent with age and regular handling. A hairline crack is visible running through the upper section of one bookend near the giraffe’s neck, and there are small nicks and minor surface losses scattered across the raised, high-contact areas. Neither issue affects the stability of the pieces, and both halves stand securely on their own.