A large very old hand crafted fish by artisans in Mali, these river sculptures are hand-carved from wood, painted, and then antiqued through an underground smoking process. The sculptures are miniature renditions of Sogo Bo masquerade puppets used in ceremonies. The young men's association is responsible for the masquerades after the harvest is finished. The puppets (fish sculptures) are used in competitions to find the best performers. The people are also known as "masters of the river" and their culture and artwork centres around their interaction with the Niger River. The puppets make stunning pieces of art for your home and each one is very different to the next. As with all our interior design products they are hand made and totally bespoke to each other made from nature. Note: There are characteristic cracks in the sides of the fish which adds to its overall age. They are solid and not flakey. Size: 80cmL x 19cmW Stand Included. Height on stand is: 28cm