Gift Muchenje

"Bird Spirit, " Serpentine Stone Sculpture Shona artist Gift Muchenj

2004

'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...

'Bird' is an original springstone sculpture signed by the Zimbabwean artist Terence Paradzai Nehumba. Terence was trained in the Shona stone carving tradition and this is an excellen...

'Stretching' is an original opal serpentine sculpture signed by the Zimbabwean artist Canaan Musiyiwa Ngandu. The sculpture presents an abstract figure in Ngandu's quintessential sty...

'Stork Bird' is an original opal serpentine stone sculpture signed by the contemporary Zimbabwean artist Jonathan Nhete. The artist presents in this sculpture a highly abstracted figure of a bird, the long beak and eye of which emerges shining and polished from within a heroic almond-shaped loop formed by the bird's wings. 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. The sculpture's surface is brought to a beautiful polish, allowing the green of the serpentine to create a glittering depth as immense as a lake or river. opal serpentine 32 x 19 x 6 1/2 inches, sculpture 2.75 x 12 x 12 inches, concrete and marble base (included at request of buyer) 34 .75 x 19 x 12 inches, overall 85 lbs signed "Nhete Jonathan" along bottom edge on reverse with hole drilled in foot to accommodate 0.5-inch steel support rod overall good condition; brown stain at base of bird neck; some minor scratches Jonathan Nhete was born on November 16, 1972 into a family of 5 boys. He decided to explore in the art industry and was fascinated by the works made by a local artist Dudzai Mushawepwere...

Incredible abstract sculpture by Tafadzwa Tandi made out of a solid piece of serpentine stone. A 3rd generation artist of Zimbabwe, Tafadzwa learned the...

Organic abstract sculpture by G. Krueger. The Serpentine stone has gorgeous earth-toned green, yellow, and orange hues, sculpted into a flowing shape in the style of Herman Miller Sc...

Signed stone sculpture by African artist Joseph Chingangaidze, polished green stone, signed at the bottom.

Born in Edinburgh (Scotland) in 1967, his parents decided to move in search of Spain's "light" when he was six. He studied at the Granada School of Arts and Craft and Photography in ...