These small bust statuettes are made of black coral by Designs By Frank Schirman, standing just under 4" tall. They feature polished black coral with details and texture in light grey/white.
The Wahini is named "Momi" and the Kane is named "Kanoa" on the paper labels glued to the bottoms. The female also has the designer name and a date of 1968 inscribed across the bust just above the lei. Sometimes Momi (and another girl named Serenity) can be found as a desk lighter.
Other 3.5" to 5.75" tall female faces were available (such as "Kanani", "Kealoha", "Koaniani", "Kapiola", "Leialoha" and "Serenity") and a different male named "Lopaka". Schirman also made larger wall plaques of a similar nature in the early 70s, and taller statues such as a 6" tall "Mele O Hawaii (Song of Hawaii)" in 1976, a 7" tall "Luana" statuette from 1972, the "Pila Aloha (Love Affair)" aka embracing lovers from 1978, and an innocent childhood pair kissing "Kehoni (The Kiss)"... among many others.
Around 1956, Frank Schirman started working with driftwood (Milo wood) found along the Hawaiian Beaches - such pieces of art are one of a kind and highly sought after. At some point in his career Schirman started to do molded pieces using pulverized black coral and mixed resins in the same way that Coco Joe's and Hip Originals were doing their pieces with resin. Many, but not all, Schirman pieces (especially the busts of women) have their hair painted white. Some pieces will have yellow paint on the flowers. At some point in the late 1960's or early 1970's, Mr. Schirman formed Schirman Inc. advertising "Hawaiian Beauties with Exotic Black Coral". Schirman passed away in 1978.
Production
Physical Characteristics
- Material
- Other
- Shape
- Object
- Colour
- Black / Grey
- Dimensions
- 3.25"W x 2"L x 3.75"H
- Imagery
- Wahine or Woman
- Marking
- Made in Hawaii with EXOTIC BLACK CORAL From the deep tropical seas of Hawaiian Islands DESIGNS By Frank Schirman
