Featured Found these today. They looked old so I bought them? Not sure what they are? Any idea?

Male 10" and Female 8 3/4"

 

Yoruba Ibeji twin figures...

while your male is on the tall side.....
your female looks like she has had a face job !!!!!

actually...the boy is older.....and nice......
and the gal ....is newer....and ...ummmm....I wouldn't date her !!!!

so they really are not an actual pair...

 

How about something like this?

 

nothing I recognize.....

 

What is it made of - wood, clay, stone? Does the extra part attach to the head in some way? What does the back look like?

 

I think it's a drum...

 

Not sure what it's made of? Soap stone maybe? The extra piece was inside when I bought it.

 

Perhaps from East Africa. The exaggerated, elongated features remind me of Makonde (Mozambique, Tanzania & Kenya) wood carvings of shetani (spirit beings). But the Makonde carve wood. Kisii stone is a type of soapstone used by artisans in Kenya, which looks similar to your object. Might it have been intended as a pipe? The area on the back, below the nose/mouth, looks like it may have been heated. Kisii stone objects are generally made for sale, and so may not have an original cultural use.

Makonde shetani:

 

My parents have a set. I will try to get a picture tomorrow. The Yoruba Ibeji have the most twins per population in the world and they are revered . If they die, a carving is made and cared for like a real person or so my research said when researching my parents set.

 

"They looked old so I bought them" - James, you fit right in here!
I think these were carved at different times, by different carvers, thanks Komo for mentioning this.
They do look quite old, ya done good, James! I think they're great!

Wow this is good information, thanks, Lark.