I set out to carve a figure that fits comfortably in the hand and which would eventually develop a patina from handling it. It has a long way to go :-)
I love the patina on wooden objects which are used daily.
Look at these beautiful headrests which are still used all over Africa. They are carried around by tribesmen wherever they go (hoping, perhaps for a cat nap under a tree) .
African headrests are carved out of a single piece of wood to the correct height and size to fit the user's head. The headrest should keep the head off the ground and keep the hair-do from being mussed.
They are also used to sit on.... especially if the terrain is thorny.
Carved dolls are handled daily by young women who wish to be blessed by the fertility deity, in the hopes that one day they will conceive beautiful, healthy, fat babies. They are worn tied in front ......
..... carried on the back ...
.... or played with in much the same way as my daughters played with their dolls.
In Angola the Mucubal babies wear Ombeleketha talismans on their backs until the baby is walking.
With daily handling the patina of these objects deepens with sweat and natural oils. Some times goat fat is rubbed into the wood.
It's easy to tell the difference between newly carved objects and those which have been used constantly for food preparation and storage.
Walking sticks develop a lovely smooth sheen where the hands constantly grip ...
..... and then there are the guns which unfortunately also develop a well used sheen.
Agere-Ethiopia on Tumblr. See more here.