vtg CARVED IRONWOOD MANATEE SCULPTURE with BABY FIGURE

Description

This is a lovely hand carved figure of a Manatee and her baby.  It is made of ironwood, which is described below.  I was trying to decide what kind of wood this was because it was so heavy when I looked at another listing and it was described so well, I admit I used theirs.  The mama is 8" x 3" x 31/2" and the baby is 3" x 2" x 1 1/2".  Together they weigh 2 lbs.  Both are in very good condition, with no chips, or cracks to the wood.  The wood still has a nice shine to it.  A few light scratches, but nothing that stands out.  They make a wonderful display.
Ironwood carving is a unique form of art from the Sonoran Desert of Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico. It was handcrafted from desert Ironwood, a very dense and heavy wood of intriguing origin.
To be suitable for carving, the wood must be exposed to the extremes of the climatic conditions that exist only in the desert. Years of exposure in this hot, dry environment cause the natural resins to collect, condense and cure, thus transforming the wood into very dense and heavy Ironwood. The government has prohibited the harvesting of living Ironwood trees, causing the artisans to search extensively for naturally fallen trees. No green wood is suitable or used for carving.
Thank you for looking, and don't hesitate to email me with any questions you may have.