The John Lenk Collection - Other Woodcarvings

2 Haitian Woodcarvings

Basket Carriers

Collected circa 1980

Two Haitian folk carvings of a Creole man and woman carrying baskets.  Elegantly carved, with thin limbs, elongated bodies, and flowing forms.  Nice fine-grained hardwood. 

male figure - dimensions:

approx 1" wide x 3" deep x 12" tall

female figure is 9" tall

Very Good Condition.  

 (round base not included)

HISTORICAL NOTE

In 1492 Christopher Columbus landed on a tiny tropical island in the Caribbean, a tropical paradise of palm trees, hibiscus flowers, and majestic mountains. The island he christened "La isla espanola" is now known as Haiti, a name derived from the Arawak Indians, who referred to their home as "Hayti", or mountainous land.

Haiti has a long history of tragedy and bloodshed. During Spanish colonization the native Arawaks were driven to near extinction.  In the mid 17th century the island became a French colony, and an invaluable resource for cocoa, cotton, sugar, and coffee. A need for cheap labor resulted in an influx of black slaves from Africa.  As a result Haiti is now home to a minority of light skinned, French-speaking Haitians at odds with a majority of dark-skinned, voodoo worshipping Creoles.

In 1804 a successful revolt resulted in the island's independence, but a series of corrupt dictators soon plunged the island into anarchy and poverty.  During this time the island split into two countries, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.  In 1915, Haiti was occupied by the United States, resulting in some improvements including paved roads, hospitals, and sewage systems.  American occupation ended  in 1934, and many leaders have ruled Haiti since, including Francois Duvalier, AKA "Papa Doc", who's secret police created a reign of terror.  After his death Haiti was ruled by his son Jean Claude, "Baby Doc" until his exile to France.  After the exile, the country was once again plunged into a period of brutality, massacres, and rigged elections.

In 1990, a priest from the slums of Port Au Prince was elected, and Jean Bertrand Aristide was seen as the first leader of the people since 1804.  In 1991, a military coup ended the Aristide presidency and he went into exile. Aristide eventually returned to power, and ruled Haiti until the recent military coupe in 2004. 

for inquiries email info@galwest.com