Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Samuel Tichafa Masakwa
'Bird' original stone Shona sculpture by Samuel Tichafa Masakwa

2004

About the Item

'Bird' is an original opal serpentine sculpture by the Zimbabwean artist Samuel Tichafa Masakwa. Trained in the Shona stone carving tradition, the artists here presents an elegantly abstracted water fowl: above the egg-shaped form of the body, the bird's long neck curls outward forming a loop. Such abstracted forms recall traditional African sculpture as well as the work of modern masters like Constantin Brancusi who looked to non-Western sources for inspiration. opal serpentine stone 31.5 x 12 x 11 inches not signed 140 lbs Overall good condition; some scratching Samuel Tichafa Masakwa was born in 1971 on the 15th of September, the first born of nine siblings. He was educated at Zengeza No. Five Primary School and later, Zengeza Four High School. Out of keen interest, he started sculpting at a tender age of fourteen. His cousins were accomplished sculptors, Nicholas Mukomberanwa and Albert Nathan Mambura whose brotherly love nurtured the interest in him to greater heights. During Samuel's school holidays, Albert Mamvura shaped his pending career as an artist by engaging him as his assistant. In 1991 he completed his 'O' levels and began sculpting full-time at Albert's workshop. As an apprentice he learned how to carve Shona abstracts, figures and heads. While he was working with Nicholas Mukomberanwa he had the chance to learn how to clean hidden angles on hard stones like springstone, cobalt, serpentine and the original green opal. In 1996 his cousins advised him to be independent in order to explore the new avenues he was bringing into the field. He discovered he did not have his own trade mark so he went to yet another accomplished artist, Joe Mutasa. Joe came to his aid with his utopia finish of details. His tall and thin pieces were and are unmatched in this broad industry. He mastered his hand on torsos and various kinds of human figures. With the attainment of his own workshop and an enormous base of art collections, many apprentices have now started lessons of their own at the workshop. Among these apprentices is Samuel's wife, Hyarai. She now creates her own sculptures emphasizing lady figures and expressing women's activities in society. As a couple their art has grown in leaps and bounds and they have had successful exhibitions locally with private galleries and abroad in the Netherlands, the US, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, the UK, Spain and France.
  • Creator:
    Samuel Tichafa Masakwa (1971)
  • Creation Year:
    2004
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 31.5 in (80.01 cm)Width: 12 in (30.48 cm)Depth: 11 in (27.94 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Overall good condition; some scratching.
  • Gallery Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 11526g1stDibs: LU60537248972
More From This SellerView All
You May Also Like
  • Moment
    By Lilian R. Engel
    Located in New York, NY
    Marble
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Abstract Sculptures

    Materials

    Marble

  • Gallulus Bronze Sculpture Nude Boy Male Figure Green Patina Marble Stone
    By Wim van der Kant
    Located in Utrecht, NL
    Gallulus Bronze Sculpture Nude Boy Male Figure Green Patina Marble Stone Wim van der Kant (1949, Kampen) is a selftaught artist. Next to his busy profess...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Nude Sculptures

    Materials

    Marble, Bronze

  • Walled Off Hotel, Box Set
    By Banksy
    Located in Bristol, GB
    Print with unique painted concrete base hand-painted by local artists. Housed in a custom made white box frame as intended by the artist Open Edition Not signed or numbered New, as issued. Minor signs of wear on frame. Inconsequential yellowing of print only visible on reverse. This does not distract from the appeal of the print. Sold with the Walled Off Hotel...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Sculptures

    Materials

    Concrete

  • Bacio (Kiss) - hand carved Italian contemporary figurative rose marble sculpture
    By Lorenzo Vignoli
    Located in San Francisco, CA
    Bacio (Kiss) by Lorenzo Vignoli striking hand carved marble sculpture of rare Portuguese rosa marble by contemporary Italian sculptor Lorenzo Vignoli, incorporating classical refere...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Sculptures

    Materials

    Stone, Marble, Carrara Marble

  • "Ghost (Waiting for Friends), " Mixed Media Mosaic, 2022
    Located in Chicago, IL
    Intricate, ethereal and highly textured, the abstract compositions of Japanese mosaic artist Toyoharu Kii reflect a sophisticated approach to the technical art of mosaic making. Clas...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Sculptures

    Materials

    Marble

  • "Ghost (Get Out of Town), " Mixed Media Mosaic, 2022
    Located in Chicago, IL
    Intricate, ethereal and highly textured, the abstract compositions of Japanese mosaic artist Toyoharu Kii reflect a sophisticated approach to the technica...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Abstract Sculptures

    Materials

    Marble

Recently Viewed

View All