A South African carved wood walking stick

A South African carved wood walking stick, depicting a Portuguese colonial wearing a hat, circa 1900, 36in (91.5cm) l. These humorous colonial carvings are now attributed to a carver who produced them in the garden of Senhor Joåo Bello in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique, at the beginning of the 20th century. Bello went there as a naval officer in 1897 and returned to Lisbon in 1926 when he was given the office of Minister of Colonies. He died in 1928. It is presumed he ordered them to be made as gifts for visiting dignitaries. In a Christies sale of 21st March (lots 245-247) a number of these carvings were sold that had belonged to Bello and with them was accompanying documentation detailing their production in the garden of his residence in Lourenço Marques.