Surrealist Totemic Wooden Sculpture, Italy, 1990s

Surrealist Totemic Wooden Sculpture, Italy, 1990s.

An elongated, rounded form, topped by a small finial, is opened by a vertical slit crossed by hourglass-shaped elements, each one cut with soft, curved edges. Below the oval, the body narrows into two slender legs that rest on a stepped base, so the piece has the poise of a figure, a key or a lantern. The upper disc is lighter and more golden, and the legs and base deepen to a dark, rich brown, so the sculpture seems to change colour along its height. The surface has a warm, hand-finished glow, with a fine texture that catches the light. An inscription is carved on the reverse, close to the base of the slit.