Any ideas of age and origin please?

[Greensleeves]

Good point -  I hadn't thought of that.  Maybe it's his hair.  In which case it must be straight which presumably would rule out African origin.

[jess5athome]

It certainly looks like a helmet if you enlarge the front view, looks like it is supposed to look like some kind of material, possibly leather.
Frank.

[John915]

Good evening,

What you have GS is a vintage wooden carving of a sumo wrestler. The round bits across his brow are his finger tips.

And here's another just like it; http://www.etsy.com/listing/109722527/vintage-japanese-wood-carving-sculpture

John915

[jess5athome]

There you go!!!! And the prize goes to john915. How many of us possibly thought of that but thought his arms would have been to long? 
Frank.

[Maggie.]

Well done John - that does indeed look almost the same. I would never have thought that those were his finger tips.

[jess5athome]

I think your item is a much better one greensleeves.
Frank.

[groom]

Well done John - that does indeed look almost the same. I would never have thought that those were his finger tips.

It's obvious now it has been pointed out isn't it.   

[Maggie.]

How many of us possibly thought of that but thought his arms would have been to long? 
Frank.

I've been trying to get myself in that position ........ and failing utterly. 

[Greensleeves]

Well done with that find John - tis indeed remarkably similar to the one I have.  However, I agree with Frank that the one I have is better; it seems more fluid and with greater detail, and seems to have more of a patina of age.  But good to know we are talking Japanese and sumo - though as stated earlier, he is a remarkably fit looking sumo!  I wonder why his head is in his hands.