Any ideas of age and origin please?

[jess5athome]

It certainly is stunning, I bet a full row of them on a chess board would look superb.
Frank.

[groom]

Can't help, but from this it looks as if someone else has one that is similar.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Need_to_identify_wooden_tribal_statue_of_heavily_muscled_man_wearing_sumo_type_loincloth_curled_in_fetal_position

Unfortunately there were no replies. 

[Maggie.]

He looks like a big fellow, but not as big as a sumo wrestler Maggie !     

Yes I realise that, Lyn, but said he was wearing a similar loin cloth.

[Lydart]

That poster that Jan found needs to put up a photo for any hope of an answer !      I'd go with oriental anyway, with the possibility of it perhaps being something like Inuit ??

[Maggie.]

I wish he'd lift his head up then we could get a proper look at his helmet. 

[groom]

Be a bit chilly if he was an Inuit.   

[Greensleeves]

What a shame there's no photo with that post, Jan.

I rather like the idea of him being a chess piece, Frank - would need a pretty large board but they would indeed look wonderful!

Looking at him closely, Maggie, the helmet at the front seems to follow his brow line then his ears are showing so it must be cut out around them.

[Maggie.]

Is it not odd that a 'helmet' would leave his ears exposed?

[groom]

Are you sure it isn't just a head decoration rather than a helmet? Would you wear a helmet with  just a loin cloth, seems a bit pointless.