Statues & Objects from Asia, Africa and the World

Art that speaks of people and cultures

All over the world, people have always created objects that are more than just utilitarian. Sculptures, masks, ritual objects, wood carvings — each piece is a window into a culture, a belief, a way of life. At 2nd Hand Bargain, we cherish these objects as carriers of stories worth telling.

Asia: spirituality in stone, wood and bronze

In Asia, art is inextricably linked to religion and philosophy. Buddha statues from Thailand, Myanmar, and Tibet exude peace and inner tranquility — whether made of gilded wood, bronze, or stone. In India, detailed bronze statues of Ganesha or Shiva tell stories from Hindu mythology, every gesture and attribute laden with meaning.

Chinese jade carvings, Japanese netsuke — miniature figurines originally used as a toggle for a kimono — and Korean celadon objects bear witness to a refined craft that requires centuries of practice and dedication. Small in size, great in meaning.

Indonesia: woodcarving as a living tradition

Indonesia has one of the richest woodcarving traditions in the world. In Bali, artisans have been carving gods, demons, and dancing figures from tropical wood for generations — each piece part of a living spiritual tradition. The Balinese barong masks, with their vibrant colors and expressive features, are both ritual object and masterpiece of craftsmanship.

In Java and the other islands, you'll find a different tradition: the wayang puppet show, with its elegantly carved leather and wooden puppets that tell stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Every object from the Indonesian archipelago carries the warmth of tropical wood and the soul of its maker.

Africa: power, rhythm, and symbolism

African art is raw, powerful, and deeply symbolic. Masks from West Africa — from the Dogon in Mali, the Yoruba in Nigeria, or the Fang in Gabon — were used in rituals, initiations, and ceremonies. They are not made to hang on a wall, but to be worn, to dance, to summon spirits.

Wooden sculptures, bronze Benin plaques, Malian bogolanfini fabrics, Kenyan soapstone sculptures — Africa boasts an inexhaustible diversity of art forms. Each piece tells something about the community that created it: about power, fertility, ancestor worship, or protection.

Latin America: from the Mayans to the Andes

In Mexico, Peru, and Guatemala, a rich tradition of folk art and ritual objects thrives. Colorful Mexican alebrijes — fantasy creatures made of painted wood — stand alongside solemn pre-Columbian replicas and hand-woven textiles from the Andes. The Peruvian retablos, small wooden altars filled with miniature scenes, are a unique blend of indigenous and Spanish traditions.

Oceania: wood, bone, and the power of ancestors

In Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and New Zealand, indigenous artists create objects that strengthen the connection to ancestors and the spirit world. Maori wood carvings from New Zealand, with their distinctive spiral patterns, are among the most recognizable art traditions in the world. Each motif has a name and a meaning, passed down from generation to generation.

Wooden sculptures and objects at 2nd Hand Bargain

At 2nd Hand Bargain, we carefully select sculptures, masks, wood carvings, and other objects from all corners of the world. Each piece in our collection is unique — an encounter with a different culture, a different time, a different way of looking at the world. Bring a piece of that world into your home.