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Rangarirai Makunde
'Scratching Bird' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Rangarirai Makunde

2004

$12,000
£9,272.08
€10,719.40
CA$16,956.87
A$19,018.25
CHF 9,959.57
MX$231,090.34
NOK 126,469.80
SEK 119,902.28
DKK 80,014.72

About the Item

'Scratching Bird' is an original serpentine stone sculpture signed by the Zimbabwean artist Rangarirai Makunde. In the sculpture, a long-beaked bird, that might be a shoebill, sits low to the ground. It reaches its head backward to its massive round body to scratch, its neck creating a D-shaped loop with its beak. The sculpture's surface is brought to a beautiful polish, allowing the black of the serpentine to create a glittering depth as immense as the night sky. serpentine 38.5 x 30.5 x 15 inches 300+ lbs signed along base on rear Sculpture will require mounting to a base and cannot stand upright on its own – we can assist with this task; please inquire. Overall excellent condition with no signs of wear. *** Rangarirai Makunde was born in 1969 in Masvingo Bikita District. In his early twenties he moved to Harare, seeking better employment opportunities than were offered in his hometown. He went to Gladman Zinyeka, his uncle, who had already created a name for himself. He worked for two years as his assistant and admired the way he created his sculptures. Makunde is one of the most acclaimed artists of the new generation of Shona sculptors. He carves from observation to bring form out of stone. He began sculpting full time which enabled him to develop his own unique style. With stone sculpting, he finally discovered a means of expressing himself. His favorite stones to work with are the hardest ones. His creations radiate a distinctively vibrant energy and color. Makunde takes particular pride in his finishes and unlike many of the other sculptors, he prefers to do the last stage of polishing himself, up to the final finish. "As an artist, I could express what is already in the stone without disrupting its natural force." *** Though springstone is one of the hardest in use by the Shona sculptors of Zimbabwe, it is one of the most prized. The stone itself can be found throughout the world, but that used by Shona sculptors is largely mined by hand out of the Guruve District of Zimbabwe. The stone has a soft brown outer layer, but is dark and dense within, making it popular for its color and its ability to be brought to a high polish.
  • Creator:
    Rangarirai Makunde (1969, Zimbabwean)
  • Creation Year:
    2004
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 38.5 in (97.79 cm)Width: 30.5 in (77.47 cm)Depth: 15 in (38.1 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Overall excellent condition with no signs of wear.
  • Gallery Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 11556g1stDibs: LU60537212822

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