Weekly Photo Challenge … Hands

I don’t know much about these wooden fists my daughter bought me from Brazil. I understand that the clenched fist or raised fist is a symbol of resistance and unity.  It has been used in art since neolithic times and has been found on cave walls. Also it appears more recently in numerous political posters and leaflets to demonstrate solidarity in the French and Soviet revolutions.  I have seen it used in by the Black Panther Movement as a symbol of self defense.
But the images I have seen are not quite like these … so I would value any more information about these very precious tokens from my Brazilian Family.

http://www.docspopuli.org/articles/Fist.html