Leopard family


BY PURCHASING THIS ITEM <= /b>*YOU* PROVIDE EMPLOYMEN= T FOR IMPOVERISHED SUB-SAHARAN COMMUNITIES AND *CONTRIBUTE* TO NGO GRASSROOTS = AIDS ORPHAN PROGRAMS

This item is purchased by = donating<= /a> to the fundraising programs of o= ur non-profit. The price is the min= imum donation for you to receive = ONE (1) original hand-carved:
Fair Trade African Stone Art Leopard family Medium: rapoko
full description
Country:	Zimbabwe	Shona sculptures impress, stimulate, and inspire. The Rapoko (soapstone) piece is entitled “Leopard Family”’ and is v= iewable from all sides. The Shona sculptor, John Banda and his team of Harare, carved the over 7” tall fine art, green streaked and speck= led black (using hand tools only as per custom) stone sculpture from a solid piece or raw soapstone; skillf= ully capturing and enshrining a family of leopards. Leopards are usually loners; the sculptu= re represents mom with her nearly adult pups climbing their favorite tree. Detail includes mouth, eyes, ears, facial hair, nostrils, skin spots, paws and toes, and tail. Peruse and scrutinize the superb artistry and attenti= on to detail (e.g. the tree bark). Request more photographs by email if need= ed. The sculpture is an outstanding example of the fine art styles and design= s, so highly prized by these talented African artists. Valued by collectors worldwide, this piece makes a great gift that anyone would be proud to ow= n. No two sculptures, however similar in style, even by the same artist are the same; they are unique, original works of art. The artwork is initialed (JB) and dated (2007) and a notarized Certificate of Authentici= ty and Valuation is available. Si= milar Shona pieces of art sell for more than $250 in USA, EU, and Asian = art galleries. We are able to offe= r them at moderate prices by contracting directly with the John and his team at = fair trade prices. With the most basic of facilities and virtually no util= ities to speak of other than raw muscle power and talent, John and his team hew these magnificent sculptures litera= lly in the African bush in the hot sun. Décor uses: The piece shows great as a standalone work of art or in a collection. A delightful addition to any African, cat, wildcat, or leopard collection or theme and décor at home and the office. Start or add to your Shona stone art collec= tion that visitors will notice and admire your good taste in art. Before too l= ong, you will be in stimulating conversations about the art and your talent as= a collector. You can tell them how you found the beautiful sculpture suppor= ting the unemployed and AIDS-impacted communities in Africa at Kwaze-Kwasa [US= A] Inc. Gift: the sculpture doubt makes an excellent gift for cat-lovers. Suitable for any occasion = or celebration and an easy and smart choice for that ‘hard-to-buy for’ or ‘who-has-everything’ person. Pri= nt this page to accompany the gift. The recipient will be thrilled to kn= ow the gift they received came to them by you generously supporting a good cause. Shona Stone Art: Admired by Picasso and many other artists and sculptors, many art critics view Shona stone sculptors to be the worl= d’s greatest rock artists and sculptors of the current era. Some consider them amongst the all time greats, we do! More Shona Stone Art product information. Stone sculpting in Zimbabwe (‘the place of stone’) dates back to between the 12= ^th and 15^th century. The style of stone sculpturing known as Shon= a stone art, however, evolved in modern times (circa 1950 and 1960s). Many early proponents and current adherents are not necessarily from one of the many Shona tribes in Zimbabwe and northern Mozambique who predominate as practitioners of the art. Some are from different tribes within Zimbabwe = and others from neighboring countries throughout the sub-continent. Research shows that Shona Stone art is not strictly a traditional Shona Tribe art = that was somehow dormant since the 15^th century but rather a unique= contemporary African stone art. Rich in Shona culture and heritage the style shows influences from western art, tourist and art market demands, current even= ts, and life in general. This does not detract from the artwork as artists ab= ly express in stone their interpretations of life drawing on their natural talent. The artists’, however, like to say that they broadly follow a basic tenant of= the Shona people that is "live together and the culture will thrive.” Supposedly, the spirits of their ancestors come to them in their dreams, revealing the images that dwell within the rock. After quarrying the rock, with pickax and pry bar, the sculptors’ use handmade and power tools to release the spirits trapped within. Consequently, the artists’ call the carvings ‘fine art’. The style conveys life-like renditions of Zimbabwe’s wild animals. John rightly prides himself= as an animal and abstract sculptor specializing in fine art leopards, family circles, and Circle of lovers or dancers in Rapoko (soapstone). He concep= tualizes his talent as a gift from and guided by his ancestors. He, like many sculptors produce the same styles repetitively once they find their niche= . On direct commission from us, he produces many of our soapstone sculptures.<= /span> Many sculptors produce the same styles repetitively and copy each other with abandon especially styles or concepts that sell under the current economic mayhem, they are the essenc= e of free marketers, producing what sells. Medium (Rapoko): The stone sculptors of Zimbabwe use different types of rock. Serpentine is overwhelmingly the stone of choice. Soapstone (steatite) called Rapoko (a= fter the local millet grain) stone in Zimbabwe (depending on its color) is one= of the softest and most widespread. The Mashava mine in the Masvingo distric= t, five hours south of Harare, where most of our art of this type originates= , is one of the many places where high quality soapstone occurs in Zimbabwe. Soapstone comes in hundreds of color tones from light through dark, often with various off-white to cream veins, mottling (orange, black, bro= wn) and black speckles that add to the beauty of the artwork. The colors resu= lt from infusions of minerals such as iron, magnesium, and copper in differi= ng crystal formations. Traditionally, clear floor polish wax is applied to e= ach soapstone sculpture to bring out a lustrous finish. Soapstone is mined wi= th crowbars, picks, and shovels only. Although somewhat soft, it is a very d= ense rock, denser than marble, slate, limestone, and even granite. If anything spills on the stone, it remains on the surface and does not penetrate into the impervious rock.
Region:	Harare
Artist:	John Banda (b. 1972)
Date:	2007
Type:	Sculpture
Original:	Stone Art
Medium:	Steatite (Soapstone)
Local name:	Rapoko
Style:	Fine Art
Theme:	Leopard Family<= /p>

Pictures:	WYSIWYG*

WE SH= IP WORLDWIDE
<= /o:p>
Actual Dimensions and Data
height x length x wi= dth
inches	7⅛ x 4¾ x 3¾
millimeters	179 x 121 x 91
Weight [Mass]	54.3 oz [1539 g]=
KKUSA Reference: SSA_R_LG3_002
© Kwaze-Kwasa [US= A] Inc.
This is the description of the sculpture in our possession. Thus, data are accurate a= nd *what you see in the accompanying photographs is what you get. Satisfaction guaranteed! Should you be dissatisfied for any reason whatsoever, the pro= duct may be swapped for a similar or any other product of similar or lesser va= lue.
*Our = Zimbabwe team, like most Zimbabweans, have a difficult life with chronic food shortages, hyperinflation (the world’s worst in modern times), rampant and universal unemployment, and now tragically victims of the current politic= al unrest.
Your generous donation helps us provide sustainable employment to the impoverished communities and funding to their grassroots AIDS orphan programs<= /a>.

BY PURCHASING THIS ITEM <= /b>*YOU* PROVIDE EMPLOYMEN= T FOR IMPOVERISHED SUB-SAHARAN COMMUNITIES AND *CONTRIBUTE* TO NGO GRASSROOTS = AIDS ORPHAN PROGRAMS