Romanian Carved Wood Face Fork & Spoon Salad Set, Signed NP, Nicolae Popa Folk Art

Description

Overview

A matched pair of figural face servers, fork and spoon, each hand-carved from a single piece of wood, incised “NP” on the back of each head. The piece is consistent with the work of Nicolae (Neculai) Popa (1919–2010) of Târpești, Neamț County, Romania, a celebrated naive sculptor and founder of a village ethnographic museum. It likely dates to the late 20th century and comes from The Craft World Tours Collection, whose Romania itineraries included visits with Popa.

Design & Craftsmanship

• Function & Form: Decorative serving set; each piece approximately 16″ long, about 12 oz combined. Each shares a figure-like plan: mask-like head, chip-carved collar, and a long open slot dividing the handle into two uprights ending in fringed “feet.” The fork ends in three tines; the spoon has a second chip-carved block above an oval bowl.
• Artistry & Ornamentation: Domed caps, ringed eyes with dark centers and wedge noses; the fork with a plain slit mouth, the spoon with a comb-like carved mustache. Sawtooth triangle cuts along the uprights and dense diamond-and-triangle chip carving on the collars. Likely a pale hardwood with a light natural patina.
• Structural Base: Each rests on its reverse; “NP” incised on the back of each head.

Condition Report

• Surface Condition: Dark stain streak and several shallow drying checks in the spoon bowl; minor edge losses and a few raised splinters on the chip-carved blocks; light residue in the carved recesses, consistent with age and handling. Fork tines appear intact.
• Structural Integrity: Both pieces appear solid and stable. This item is sold “as-is” with all associated patina and wear inherent to its age and history as part of the Craft World Tours Collection.