A human face has been carved into an upright branch, and this is the Green Man. The natural shape of the wood was kept, so the curve of the branch and its grain are part of the carving. It was made by hand in Indonesia from parasite wood. The piece is about 21 cm tall, stands on roughly 9 × 7 cm and weighs about 250 g. Its height is about the width of an A4 sheet. You receive one carving.
Who is the Green Man?
The Green Man is a face formed from leaves and branches, a figure that keeps returning in old European decorative art. You can see him in the stone carvings of many medieval churches, especially in England. The face is usually framed by leaves, or has vines growing from its mouth. Today he is seen as a symbol of nature and renewal.
A face in the grain
Like the rest of the series, it is carved from parasite wood, which comes from a plant that grows on a host tree and lives off it. Such wood yields knotty, winding pieces, and the carver shaped the face to suit each one. Colour and form therefore vary a little, and your Green Man will not look exactly like the photos.
For garden lovers
Slim and upright, it fits on a bookshelf, a desk or beside a potted plant, and at 21 cm it still catches the eye. If you are looking for a gift for someone who loves gardens and old folk traditions, this carving suits them well. It does not belong outdoors, as rain ruins raw wood, but it looks right in a window that faces the garden.
Dust the raw wood with a soft brush and keep it out of damp places. Keep it away from radiators too, as heat dries the wood.