Washington Msonza

"Traditional Dresser, " Opal Stone Sculpture by Shona Sculptor Washington Msonza

2002

This small and intimate sculpture of an elephant is a heartfelt and doting example of the sculpture of the Shona artists of Zimbabwe, but also demonstrates the clever use of the texture of the stone. The sculpture is stylized, though more naturalistic than many of the sculptures of the Shona artists. The elephant leans backward and reaches its trunk into the air. The use of texture on its body is ingenious, using a series of crossing lines to create a rough surface that mimics the appearance of real elephant skin, adding a lifelike effect to the stationary stone. Unknown Shona artist 'Elephant,' late 20th century springstone 4.5 x 3.87 x 1.63 inches Overall excellent condition; some minor surface abrasions Shona artists and crafts people have been working in different media for generations. These include paintings, pottery, basket ware, wood carvings, and sculpture done in metal as well as the stone carvings. While there is not a long standing tradition of sculpture in what is now Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia), stone carvings dating from the 15th century were seen in Great Zimbabwe, an excavated temple near Bulawayo. Most of the artifacts from this location have been moved to museums in Cape Town, South Africa or London. It is generally agreed that Zimbabwean stone sculpture...

"Morning Excercise (C-3)" is an original black serpentine stone sculpture by Colleen Madamombe. The artist signed the piece along the base of the skirt. This artwork features a woman...

'Grandmother' is an original black serpentine sculpture by the celebrated second generation Shona artist Colleen Madamombe. The sculpture presents a character common to Madamombe's work: a woman with a round face and wearing a billowing, layered dress. Here, a woman leans on her cane, suggesting her old age. The imagery reminds of Madamombe's larger themes of womanhood, sisterhood, and matrilineage. As is so desired of her work, this sculpture is a play in texture: their faces and hands are polished and smooth, which is juxtaposed with the rough-hewn surfaces of the clothing and hair. black serpentine 28 x 15 x 10 inches Signed along the base on the reverse Acquired directly from the artist (C-51) Excellent condition with no chips or signs of wear Colleen Madamombe (1964–2009) was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. Considered to be among the finest new talents from Zimbabwe, she won the award of Best Female Artist of Zimbabwe three years in a row, and became an established figure of the Second Generation of Zimbabwean stone...

'Preoccupied' is an original black serpentine sculpture by the celebrated second generation Shona artist Colleen Madamombe. The sculpture presents a character common to Madamombe's w...

'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...

'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...

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