Two similar bird carvings in stone

Probably not antique but I’m not sure. Purchased at my first estate auction ten years ago or so. The house was next to my bus stop from grades K-12. The lady passed when I was a young kid and it sat empty for decades. I got the feeling the auction runner brought in some items from other places but the lady had some nice stuff. I was penny pinching at the time so just picked up a couple little things. I bought these two birds and loved them back then. Not sure if they are influenced by a certain culture or not? The line in the side reminds me of something, Egyptian I believe it is? Probably not much here but figured I may as well get the low down if there is one. I’m curious since they have been around so long. Was back visiting my parents last week and saw them on a shelf. I recall I brought them to a picnic to show an aunt a day or so after purchasing them. The wind blew them off the picnic table when I wasn’t around and they got all chipped and scratched. I was so bummed then!

 

Dodo?

 

Right!?

 

Not a great resemblance, I'm afraid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodo

 

Norwegian blue - beautiful plumage!

 

Any resemblance here???

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/zimbabwe-shona-tribe-soapstone-bird-1779525379

 

It was my first thought too but not a perfect match I know!

 

I think you are definitely onto something. With the swirled line some have on the wing it’s got to be it! No?

 

Has to be right? Several of the photos on google of these have the swirled line on the wing. Maybe this artist just took some liberty?

 

Kissing cousins?
If you flip one around, do the beaks line up?


Sorry, that's what I thought of when I saw them

 

They would just about. Ones a bit smaller than the other so not perfectly but th Eu would! Zimbabian cousins.

 

I think with the matching line it’s got to be. Unless someone swoops in like you said I’m considering it solved.

 

guy doesn't know what it is...but kinda looks like yours..... not NWC though..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/northwest-...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

Closest beak so far with same line and base. He has it listed in Chinese category with NWC title. I’m quite confident it’s Zimbabwe at this point.

 

I found it looking for other things...& just thought I'd add it to the discussion...cuz it looked the same !!

I'm all in for African stone carving..

 

Thanks so much for posting! The African ones don’t seem to go for much from what I’ve seen. I’m sure there’s exceptions though. I pretty much like all cultures stone carvings though.

 

There are indeed exceptions....some well known names involved...
Henry..for one..

Henry Munyaradzi was a Zimbabwean sculptor. The sculptural movement of which he was part is usually referred to as "Shona sculpture", although some of its recognised members are not ethnically Shona. He worked initially at the Tengenenge Sculpture Community, 150 km north of Harare near Guruve, which he joined in 1967.Wikipedia
Born: 1931, Zimbabwe
Died: February 27, 1998, Ruwa, Zimbabwe
Known for: Sculpture