Pare Wooden Male Figure on Custom Base Tanzania Rohner Collection
Width: 3.25
Depth: 3.25
Description
This carved wooden male figure from Tanzania is attributed to the Pare people of northeastern Tanzania and is mounted on a custom display base. The Pare have a long cultural history in the Pare Mountains, where communities developed distinctive traditions shaped by their environment, agriculture, and interactions with neighboring peoples.
Traditional artistic practices across Tanzania include carved wooden figures that reflect cultural identity, social values, and community traditions. This male figure offers a glimpse into the region’s diverse sculptural heritage, with its carved form highlighting the craftsmanship of the artist. A distinctive example of Tanzanian figural sculpture, this piece reflects the artistic traditions of East Africa.
Provenance: John R. Rohner Collection
Rohner, a museum curator for decades, aimed his practiced eye for authenticity to African art beginning in the early 1980s. His passion for this art only grew through the decades he built his collection––always with an aim for a broad and representative array of pieces. The collection appears in his book, Art Treasures from African Runners (2000, University Press of Colorado).
Item #666 on pg. 246
Height (in): 12.5
Width (in): 3.25
Depth (in): 3.25
157513
Approximate Age: 20th Century
People: Pare
Country of Origin: Tanzania
Material
Condition
Overall Condition: Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.