A beautifully weathered pair with stories carved into every fold. This vintage set of hand-carved wooden figures depicts a rural villager couple seated in quiet companionship—she with her layered necklaces and coin-adorned headdress, he with a pipe to his lips and a contemplative gaze. Both wear traditional attire and carry intricately carved baskets on their backs, possibly meant to evoke the agrarian life of hill tribes from northern Southeast Asia.
 
Standing just over 13" tall, each figure is carved from a solid block of wood and painted in rich, earthy tones—deep greens, ochres, muted reds—still vibrant beneath a gentle layer of age-earned patina. The carving is expressive and folk-influenced, with a charmingly grounded posture and confident hand-tool work visible throughout. The male figure will rock just slightly uneven when you touch him (but he sits straight) due to a natural knot in the wood at his base—just part of their honest, handmade origins.
 
While unmarked, these likely hail from Thailand, Laos, or a neighboring region, crafted for the mid-20th century tourist trade, and preserved beautifully since. They can function as bookends, shelf art, or conversation pieces—especially for those drawn to world folk art, vintage travel decor, or symbolic pairings with presence.
 
How Would You Style Them Today?
Pair them on a low bookshelf or console with woven textures and warm-toned woods. Let them anchor a vignette alongside dried florals, vintage travel books, or brass candleholders to echo their global roots. Or feature them in a rustic kitchen—tucked onto a pot shelf between cookbooks, stacked baskets, and well-loved copper. Their quiet presence and worn patina feel right at home alongside heirloom recipes and hand-thrown pottery.
 
Each approx. 13" tall x 5" wide x 7" deep
Sold as a pair
Excellent vintage condition with minor surface wear and natural patina
Hand-carved and hand-painted