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'African Queen' Shona stone sculpture signed by Chenjerai Chiripanyanga
By Chenjerai Chiripanyanga
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'African Queen' is an original opal serpentine stone sculpture signed by the contemporary Zimbabwean artist Chenjerai Chiripanyanga. The sculpture itself stands tall and proud like a...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Scratching Bird' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Rangarirai Makunde
By Rangarirai Makunde
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'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 l...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Sunbathing' original stone Shona sculpture by Washington Msonza
By Washington Msonza
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Sunbathing' is an original stone sculpture by the Zimbabwean artist Washington Msonza. In the sculpture, a woman reclines nude and on the ground in a moment of relaxation under the sun. She holds a child on her lap and he two gaze at one another in a moment of bonding and adoration. This intimate composition reminds, on one hand, of the great painting 'Olympia' by the relist painter Édouard Manet by nature of the nude woman in repose. On the other, it also recalls the subject matter of the Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt, whose work often focused on domestic scenes of mothers and their children. All of these art historical references are nonetheless contained within the materiality of the serpentine stone itself, in which Msonza uses the polish and texture of the stone to capture skin and hair and the subtly of the figures' expressions.
opal stone (serpentine)
26.5 x 36.5 x 12 inches
200+ lbs
not singed
Overall good condition; some minor surface abrasions.
Sculpture may require preparation to be mounted or installed. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you might have.
Washington Msonza was born in 1966 in Domboshava where he attended primary school. He then moved to Chitungwiza to attend secondary schooling. While in school, he spent most of his time watching his sculptor brother-in-law Albert Mamvura, whose workshop was close to his house. In 1988 Msonza began assisting Albert full time, while simultaneously gaining experience by watching other well known artists in the area including Gedion Nyanhongo...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Togetherness' original stone Shona sculpture signed by Phineas Masaya
By Phineas Masaya
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Togetherness' is an original springstone sculpture signed by the Zimbabwean artist Phineas Masaya. The sculpture presents an image of two figures in unity, their bodies together mak...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Family' original signed Shona stone sculpture by Wonder Mazhindu Bumhira
By Wonder Mazhindu Bumhira
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Family' is an original stone sculpture signed by Zimbabwean artist Wonder Mazhindu Bumhira. The composition is an example of the family groupings, with each figure arranged as though they were a flower in a bouquet, that are so desired from Shona sculptors. Though the figures are ambiguous and stylized, the figures are arranged using a hierarchy of scale: the matriarch (perhaps a grandmother) towers over the other members of her family, with her children and grandchildren below. Thusly, sculptures like this present a vision of family structure and unity.
opal stone (serpentine)
36 x 13.5 x 11 inches
signed 'W. Maz' along base
Overall good condition. Please contact us for a complete condition assessment.
Born on January 17th, 1982 in East Mashonaland, Harare, Wonder (often spelled Wander) is the fifth born of a family of 6...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Honeymoon' original stone Shona sculpture by Marowa & Chideu
By Tendai Marowa & Stanley Chideu
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Honeymoon' is an original springstone sculpture by the Zimbabwean artists Tendai Marowa and Stanley Chideu. The sculpture presents a tall and elegant figure. The figure is highly st...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Scratching Bird' Shona stone sculpture signed by Chenjerai Chiripanyanga
By Chenjerai Chiripanyanga
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Scratching Bird' is an original opal serpentine stone sculpture signed by the contemporary Zimbabwean artist Chenjerai Chiripanyanga. 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 the rough-hewn surface of the stone. Though Chiripanyanga is trained in the Shona stone carving tradition, the way that the bird seems to be revealed out of the stone reminds of the "unfinished" sculptures of Michelangelo...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Father Christmas' original stone Shona sculpture by Marowa & Chideu
By Tendai Marowa & Stanley Chideu
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Father Christmas,' an original springstone sculpture by the Zimbabwean artists Tendai Marowa and Stanley Chideu, would make an excellent holiday gift...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Protected by Spirits' original stone Shona sculpture by Marowa & Chideu
By Tendai Marowa & Stanley Chideu
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Protected by Spirits' is an original springstone sculpture by the Zimbabwean artists Tendai Marowa and Stanley Chideu. The sculpture presents a tall and curving face with a ring-sha...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Chicken' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Samuel Likongwe
By Samuel Likongwe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Chicken' is an original opal serpentine sculpture signed by the Zimbbwean artist Samuel Likongwe. Based in Harare, Likongwe was trained in the Shona stone sculpting tradition and hi...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Eye Witness' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Josphat Makenzi
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Eye Witness' is an original opal serpentine sculpture signed by the Zimbabwean artist Josphat Makenzi. Makenzi was trained in the contemporary Shona stone carving tradition, and thus his works take on themes from African as well as from European art history. His sculptures of the human face have the abstracted qualities of traditional African sculptures and masks...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Bird Chicken' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Samuel Likongwe
By Samuel Likongwe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Bird Chicken' is an original opal serpentine sculpture signed by the Zimbbwean artist Samuel Likongwe. Based in Harare, Likongwe was trained in the Shona stone sculpting tradition a...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Special Catch' stone Shona sculpture figure and fish signed by Chemedu Jemali
By Chemedu Jemali
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Special Catch' is an original sculpture signed by the Zimbabwean artist Chemedu Jemali. The sculpture presents the head and torso of a figure clutching to a fish, each highly abstra...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Listening Friend' springstone Shona sculpture signed by Chemedu Jemali
By Chemedu Jemali
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Listening Friend' is an original springstone sculpture signed by the Zimbabwean artist Chemedu Jemali. The sculpture presents the head and torso of a figure, highly abstracted in Jemali's signature style: The figure's head leans to one side, eyes closed, as if carefully listening to the viewer. Like rippling sound waves, ridges cover half the figures face and body, each undulating and glistening with a polished surface. As the viewer walks around the sculpture, they can see that Jemali has left parts of the figure as natural stone, allowing the rough-hewn texture to create an exquisite contrast of surface with the mesmerizing polish.
46 x 13 x 10.5 inches
Signed "Chemedu Jemali" along base, proper right
Chemedu Jemali was born on March 3, 1971 in Harare, where he did his primary education. He and his family then moved to the Shamva township where he completed high school. His family is originally from Malawi and their totem is of the Miranzi (mouse).
Chemedu's work focuses on stylized and abstracted figuration, ranging from spirit birds to stylized busts. Chemedu took an interest in carving in the early 1990s, inspired by the success of his older brother, Chituwa, and became an established carver. Initially, he worked as an apprentice to Chituwa who introduced him to carving the local hard stone such as verdite, springstone, cobalt and lemon opal. He has three brothers and one sister; his brother, Salim, is also a full time sculptor.
He has become a well known artist not only in the Shona Art...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Mother and Child' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Samuel Likongwe
By Samuel Likongwe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Mother and Child' is an original opal serpentine sculpture signed by the Zimbbwean artist Samuel Likongwe. Based in Harare, Likongwe was trained in the Shona stone sculpting traditi...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Notorious Leader' original stone sculpture by Shona artist Nigel James
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Notorious Leader' is an original opal serpentine sculpture by Zimbabwean artist Nigel James. The sculpture, a mask-like face of a man, takes joy and pride in the texture of the ston...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Feeling Heart Beat' original signed Shona stone sculpture by Colleen Madamombe
By Colleen Madamombe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Feeling Heart Beat' is an original black serpentine sculpture by the celebrated second generation Shona artist Colleen Madamombe. The sculpture presents a character common to Madamo...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Preoccupied' original signed Shona stone sculpture by Colleen Madamombe
By Colleen Madamombe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'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...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Grandmother' original signed Shona stone sculpture by Colleen Madamombe
By Colleen Madamombe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'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...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Proud Woman' original Shona stone sculpture by Chenjerai Chiripanyanga
By Chenjerai Chiripanyanga
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Proud Woman' is an original opal serpentine stone sculpture by the contemporary Zimbabwean artist Chenjerai Chiripanyanga. The artist presents in this sculpture a highly abstracted ...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Mother Elephant with Baby' original small sculpture, heirloom gift
Located in Milwaukee, WI
This small and intimate sculpture of a mother and infant elephant is a heartfelt and doting example of the sculpture of the Shona artists of Zimbabwe...
Category
Late 20th Century Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Elephant' original African Shona stone sculpture Zimbabwe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
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...
Category
Late 20th Century Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Teacher or Preacher' original signed Shona stone sculpture by Colleen Madamombe
By Colleen Madamombe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Teacher or Preacher' is an original black serpentine sculpture by the celebrated second generation Shona artist Colleen Madamombe. The sculpture presents a character common to Madam...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Excited Girl' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Colleen Madamombe
By Colleen Madamombe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Excited Girl' is an original black serpentine sculpture by the celebrated second generation Shona artist Colleen Madamombe. The sculpture presents a character common to Madamombe's ...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Coming From the Fields' original Shona stone sculpture by Colleen Madamombe
By Colleen Madamombe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Coming From the Fields' is an original black serpentine sculpture by the celebrated second generation Shona artist Colleen Madamombe. The sculpture presents a character common to Ma...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Relaxing Woman' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Colleen Madamombe
By Colleen Madamombe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Relaxing Woman' 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. She holds her hands on her knees as she sits recumbent on the ground. As is so desired of her work, this sculpture is a play in texture: her face and hands are polished and smooth, which is juxtaposed with the rough-hewn surfaces of the clothing and hair.
black serpentine
905 x 16 x 11 inches
Signed along the base on the reverse
Acquired directly from the artist (C-24)
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...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Coming From Labor' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Colleen Madamombe
By Colleen Madamombe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Coming From Labor' is an original black serpentine sculpture by the celebrated second generation Shona artist Colleen Madamombe. The sculpture presents a character common to Madamom...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Playing Sisters' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Colleen Madamombe
By Colleen Madamombe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Playing Sisters' is an original black serpentine sculpture by the celebrated second generation Shona artist Colleen Madamombe. The sculpture presents a character common to Madamombe...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Women Standing in Line' original Shona stone sculpture signed Colleen Madamombe
By Colleen Madamombe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Women Standing in Line' is an original black serpentine sculpture by the celebrated second generation Shona artist Colleen Madamombe. The sculpture presents characters common to Mad...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Grandmother' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Colleen Madamombe
By Colleen Madamombe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'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 w...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'Greetings' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Colleen Madamombe
By Colleen Madamombe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Greetings' is an original black serpentine sculpture by the celebrated second generation Shona artist Colleen Madamombe. The sculpture presents a character common to Madamombe's wor...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
'General (Napoleon)' original bronze sculpture by Doris Jarowsky 1960s abstract
Located in Milwaukee, WI
This small-scale bronze of the General Napoleon by American artist Doris Jarowsky is an excellent example of the sculpture of the 1960s. The sculpture i...
Category
1960s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
'Art Column (ART DBG)' original signed ceramic sculpture toy blocks pop art
Located in Milwaukee, WI
Art Column (ART DBG)' is an original signed ceramic sculpture by Robin Campo. It is a rare and early example of the artist's fanciful work, made only a year after he earned his Master of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and while he was developing his reputation through local galleries. Campo is here working in the later traditions of pop art by using the ceramic medium for trompe l'oeil effect: the sculpture is made to look like an oversize stack of toy wood...
Category
1980s Pop Art Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Glaze
'White Stoneware (Face)' original hand-built ceramic plate by Estherly Allen
By Estherly Allen
Located in Milwaukee, WI
This small hand-built plate, 'White Stoneware (Face),' is an intimate and exciting example of the ceramic work of Estherly Allen. She was a student of George McNeil, an important Abs...
Category
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Glaze, Stoneware
'King of Farts' original ceramic vase and relief signed by Michael Gross
By Michael Gross
Located in Milwaukee, WI
The ceramic sculptures of Wisconsin artist Michael Gross are personal narratives that reveal an unusual mix of earthly magic and primal vitality. The artist works in a variety of forms, including figurines, large vessels and furniture. The present vase is among the top tier of his works from the 1980s, showing multiple playful figures in relief around the vessel. In his Neo-Expressionist style, hearkening to the works of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, the figures are colored in painterly polychrome. Also, not unlike the painted narrative vessels of Ancient Greece, though much more subversive, many of the figures and stories are identified with text: 'King of Fart,' 'Dance Little Sister,' 'Girls for Every Boy,' and 'Beach Boy.'
22 x 13 x 12 inches overall
Signed 'Gross' near base
Dated 1986 near upper rim
SELECTED COLLECTIONS INCLUDING WORKS BY GROSS:
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.; Sharon Lynne Wilson...
Category
1980s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
"Bidjoguo Head Portuguese Guinea, " Wood, Rope, & Horns created circa 1950
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Bidjogue Cow Head Portuguese Guinea" is a sculpture made of wood, rope and horns. The carved bull head hangs on the wall looking out the viewer with two eyes not quite looking in th...
Category
1950s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Other Medium
"Jokwe Maternity, Angola, " Carved Wood created in Africa circa 1910
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Jokwe Maternity, Angola" is a wood sculpture from Africa created circa 1910. The figure kneels on the ground holding a baby in her arms. Her eyes are closed and she is wearing a com...
Category
1910s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
"Toma Mask, Guinea, " Carved Wood from Africa created circa 1900
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Toma Mask, Guinea" is a carved wooden mask from Africa and created in c. 1900. The painting has worn away, but around the eyes the painting is easier to see...
Category
Early 1900s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
"Idgo Nigeria Female Standing, " Wood Statue with Blue & White Pigment circa 1930
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Idgo Nigeria Female Standing" is a wooden statue with blue and white pigment created in Nigeria circa 1930. This figure stands up right with arms out slightly in front of her. A st...
Category
1930s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
"Homage to Picasso, " Acrylic on Gourd signed by Kyle Zubatsky
By Kyle Zubatsky
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Homage to Picasso" is an acrylic on gourd signed by Kyle Zubatsky. This sculpture shows a nude woman. Her body is shown in the lower and larger part of the gourd, everything is circular. The face is pouty and a crown is made by yellow sticks around her head.
Sculpture: 11.5 x 8 x 8 in
Wisconsin artist Owner of the Tall Tree Gallery Used to co-own the Art Escape Gallery in Thiensville, WI with Diane Arenberg Volunteered her talents to Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition's "The Rare Chair Affair" an auction/event to raise awareness about Breast cancer; was a guest artist for ColettaScope 2008-10th Anniversary...
Category
1990s Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Acrylic
"Looking For, " Ceramic Portrait of Young Child signed on bottom by Orly Montag
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Looking For" is a ceramic bust of a small child signed on bottom by Orly Montag. The child looks upwards sadly, almost pouting. His body is purely white except for around the face, ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
"Nail Fetish Bacongo-Zaire, " Glass, Wood, & Metal created circa 1910
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Nail Fetish Bacongo-Zaire" is a sculpture made of glass, wood, and metal created circa 1910. He has a top hat upon his head and face paint. Their right ha...
Category
1910s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Metal
"My Dear Friend, " Green Serpentine Stone signed by Chemedu Jemali a Shona
By Chemedu Jemali
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"My Dear Friend" is a green serpentine stone signed by Chemedu Jemali who is a African Shona. The body of the figure is a fluid shape with their left hand in...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
"Kota Reliquary Figure Nigeria, " Wood & Copper created circa 1970
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Kota Reliquary Figure Nigeria" is a wood and copper sculpture created in Nigeria circa 1970. A head is made with wide red eyes. Their hair is in...
Category
1970s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Copper
"Bronze Statue - Ife, Nigeria, " Bronze Sculpture created circa 1920s
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Bronze Statue - Ife, Nigeria" is a bronze sculpture created in circa 1920. This figure has short legs and a short torso, but a large head. They held out their hands with two objects...
Category
1920s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
"Joyful Bowler, " Serpentine Sculpture signed by Felix Mlungisi an African Shona
By Felix Mlungisi
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Joyful Bowler" is a serpentine sculpture signed by Felix Mlungisi an African Shona. This figure is shown squatting and looking upwards with eyes closed. Their hair is not polished s...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
"Hemba Stool-Monkeys Zaire, " Carved Wood created circa 1900-1920 in Africa
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Hemba Stool-Monkeys Zaire" is a carved wood stool created in Africa circa 1900-1920. The base of the stool is domed in the middle a column goes upwards to...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
"Bobo Mask Burkina Fasso-Upper Volta, " Carved & Painted Wood created c. 1945
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Bobo Mask Burkina Fasso-Upper Volta" is a wood carved sculpture with painted details. It features the image of an abstracted face with a large almost elepha...
Category
1940s Tribal Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Wood
"Bambara Queen, Rep. Mali, " Wood created in Africa in c. 1940
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Bambara Queen, Rep. Mali" is a carved wood sculpture with abstracted human and animal figures.
20" x 6" x 3"
The Bambara are a Mande ethnic group native to West Africa, primarily ...
Category
1940s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
"Dan Mask Ivory Coast, " Wood, Hair, & Mud created in African in c. 1940
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Dan Mask Ivory Coast" is a mask sculpted out of wood with hair and mud. Slit eyes and an opened mouth with a heart shaped face.
6" x 9" x 2"
Da...
Category
1940s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Found Objects, Wood
"Secret Society Mask-Sierra Leone W. Africa, " Wood created circa 1930
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Secret Society Mask-Sierra Leone W. Africa," is a wood sculpture of a woman's head. The hair has been sculpted with intricate detail, and metal hair adornments...
Category
1930s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
"Senufo Mask of Ceremonies (from Republic Ivory Coast), " Painted Carved Wood
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Senufo Mask of Ceremonies (from Republic Ivory Coast)" is an carved wood artifact from the Senufo people of Africa, in the northeastern cote d'Ivoire. The...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Paint, Wood
"Dan Mask, " Carved Wood created in Liberia circa the 1950s
Located in Milwaukee, WI
The Dan people of Liberia have a history of using masks like these for rituals pertaining to various aspects of their lives.
This particular mask has a commanding, yet gentle presence. The carved wooden face...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
African Stone Sculpture Birds Animals Family Mother Children Outdoors Siblings
By Gerald Takawira
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Protecting Family" is an original sculpture in springstone created by Gerald Takawira. Takawira was an African Shona artist. His father John Takawira was also a Shona artist. This c...
Category
1980s Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
"Together We Stand, " Shona Figurative Opal Stone Sculpture by Obert Mukumbi
By Obert Mukumbi
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Together We Stand" is an original opal stone sculpture by Shona sculptor Obert Mukumbi. The artist signed the piece on the bottom. The piece weighs ...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
"Monumental, " Springstone Sculpture signed by Shona artist Phineas Masaya
By Phineas Masaya
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Monumental" is an original springstone sculpture by Shona sculptor Phineas Masaya. The artist signed the piece. This artwork features an abstracted figure.
10 1/2" x 4" x 4" art
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 as seen today began during the late colonial period of the 1950's and 1960's. During this period the artists and artisans depicted many of the traditional Shona and other tribal spiritual myths.
Out of all the nations in Africa, the large varieties and abundant supplies of rock formations present throughout the Zimbabwe landscape...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
"Calling Head, " Opal Stone Sculpture signed by Shona artist Gift Muchenje
By Gift Muchenje
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Calling Head" is an original opal stone sculpture by Gift Muchenje. The artist signed the piece and it weighs 155 lbs. This artwork features a woman with ...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
"Traditional Dresser, " Opal Stone Sculpture by Shona Sculptor Washington Msonza
By Washington Msonza
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Traditional Dresser" is an original opal serpentine sculpture signed by the Zimbabwean artist Washington Msonza. The sculpture features a single elegant figure in a flowing gown, standing tall and averting her gaze as she clutches the veil that envelops her. Msonza emphasizes the materiality of the work, as is so desired of artists trained in the Shona tradition, by differentiating between the dark, smooth polish of her skin and the lighter textured surface of her clothes. Even more, passages of the surface are left in the serpentine's rough natural state, allowing the green-colored stone to contrast with the red-orange oxidization of its environment.
opal stone (serpentine)
37.5 x 12.5 x 13 inches
signed "Msonza W" on reverse along base
Overall good condition; some minor scratches, likely as the sculpture left artist's studio.
Washington Msonza was born in 1966 in Domboshava where he attended primary school. He then moved to Chitungwiza to attend secondary schooling. While in school, he spent most of his time watching his brother-in-law Albert Mamvura also a sculptor, whose workshop was close to his house. In 1988 Msonza began assisting Albert full time, while simultaneously gaining experience by watching other well known artists in the area including Gedion Nyanhongo...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
"Triplets (C-25), " Black Serpentine Stone Sculpture signed by Colleen Madamombe
By Colleen Madamombe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Triplets (C-25)" is an original black serpentine sculpture by Colleen Madamombe. The artist signed the piece. This artwork features three women in large, textured dresses, gesturing and standing close to one another.
9 1/2" x 13" x 8" art
Colleen Madamombe was born in 1964 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Considered to be among the finest new talents from Zimbabwe, she has won the award of Best Female Artist of Zimbabwe for the past three consecutive years, and is quickly becoming an established figure of the Second Generation of Zimbabwean stone...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
"Crossing the Road (C-48)" Black Serpentine Stone Sculpture by Colleen Madamombe
By Colleen Madamombe
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Crossing the Road (C-48)" is an original black serpentine stone sculpture by Colleen Madamombe. The artist signed the piece. This artwork features two women in large, textured dresses walking side by side.
6" x 5 1/2" x 3" art
Colleen Madamombe was born in 1964 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Considered to be among the finest new talents from Zimbabwe, she has won the award of Best Female Artist of Zimbabwe for the past three consecutive years, and is quickly becoming an established figure of the Second Generation of Zimbabwean stone...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone