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Country: |
Zimbab=
we |
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Region: |
Chitun=
gwezi |
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Artist: |
Edias S. Tafadzwa |
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Date: |
2008 |
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Type: |
Fine a=
rt Sculpture |
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Original: |
Limite=
d 2008
series #9/10. |
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Medium: |
Verdit=
e |
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Local name: |
Verdit=
e |
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Style: |
Giraffe
(Pair) |
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Theme: |
African
Wildlife |
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Dimensions and Dat=
a |
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height x length x width |
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inches |
9¼ x 4⅜
x 2⅜ |
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millimeters |
235
x 110 x 60 |
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We=
ight [Mass] |
28.4
oz
[941 g] |
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Notari=
zed
Certificate of Authenticity |
||
Fair Trade African Stone Art
Fine art sculpture/carving
Edias
chooses African animals as his specialty usually producing elephants and
rhinoceroses and rarely the giraffe (world’s tallest land animal) due to the
added difficulty of the legs. In this piece, he has captured giraffes “neck=
ing,”
a common sight in the wild where they intertwine their long necks. The medi=
um, green
with negligible honey-colored streaks Verdite stone, is almost worked
out adding to the uniqueness of the work.
Edias=
paid incredible
attention to detail from the horns to the hooves. The beautiful art piece, =
in
proportion and to scale, has a notarized certificate of authenticity and
origin. The sculpture will become a treasured family heirloom and increase
rapidly in value. Valued by coll=
ectors
worldwide, this piece makes a great gift that anyone would be proud to own.=
The g=
iraffe
pair started out as raw Verdite stone. The stone is rough-cut by hand using
hammer and chisel by Edias and his apprentices. He then shapes and details =
the
sculpture by machine, a delicate operation considering the thinness of the =
legs
relative to the pressure required to carve the stone. A final wax polish is
applied to the smooth finish by the apprentices after many hours of hand
sanding with fine to very fine water paper. Edias then etches the final hide
markings, initials, numbers, and dates the sculpture.
No two
sculptures, however similar in style, even by the same artist are the same;
they are unique, original works of art. Similar
Shona art pieces s=
ell
for more than $500 in USA, EU, and Asian art galleries. We are able to offer them at moderate prices by contracting direct=
ly
with the sculptor at fair trade prices.
Shona Stone Art: Admired
by Picasso and many other artists and sculptors, many art critics view Shona
stone sculptors to be the world’s greatest rock artists and sculptors of the
current era. Some consider them amongst the all time greats, we do!<=
span
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>
Stone sculpting in Zimbabwe (‘t=
he
place of stone’) dates back to between the 12th and 15th
century. The style of stone sculpturing known as Shona stone art, however,
evolved in modern times (circa 1950 and 1960s). While the early sculptures =
were
influenced by a need to communicate social messages, nowadays a new type of=
art
has emerged which thrives on aesthetic appeal. Such art is now found at many
tourist destinations where it is made by artists desperate to earn a living
amidst the harsh economic conditions present in Zimbabwe.
Many early proponents and curre=
nt
adherents have no formal training in art and produce works that were inspir=
ed
by their traditions and day-to-day experiences. 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 sh=
ows
that Shona Stone art is not strictly a traditional Shona Tribe art that was
somehow dormant since the 15th 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
events, and life in general. This does not detract from the artwork as arti=
sts
ably 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 "l=
ive
together and the culture will thrive.” Supposedly, the spirits of their
ancestors come to them in their dreams, revealing the images that dwell wit=
hin
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 car=
vings
‘fine art’. The style conveys life-like renditions of Zimbabwe’s wild anima=
ls. Edias
rightly prides himself as an animal carver specializing in fine art elephan=
ts
and rhinoceroses in the hard stones. He conceptualizes 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 fair trade commis=
sion,
he produces many of our fine art animal sculptures.
Medium (verdite): The stone sculptors of Zim=
babwe
use different types of rock. Serpentine is overwhelmingly the stone of choi=
ce.
However, Verdite a semi-precious stone found only in Zimbabwe and South Afr=
ica
aka, "Africa's Green Gold” is one of the favorites of carvers. A
metamorphic rock, one of the oldest (if not the oldest) found on the planet,
formed about the time that life was just beginning on Earth. These rocks yi=
eld
evidence of conditions of life on the surface of the very early earth and t=
he
first life form (on earth). A bacterial microfossil Archaeospheroides barbertonis dated at about 3.2 billion years =
old
discovered in the Nelspruit-Barberton region of South Africa.
Verdi=
te
polishes and looks better than malachite or jade. One of the hardest stones=
to
carve, with Mohs hardness between 7 and 9 depending on the amount of corund=
um
inclusions, makes it a challenging sculpting medium. Only the more experien=
ced
sculptor will dare sculpt from this hard stone. The best quality deposit fo=
und
in Zimbabwe is fast becoming worked out and thus rare and highly prized.
Carvings from this stone will become increasingly more valuable. The stone’s
color is unique in that it boasts an emerald looking quality with beautiful
brown, yellow, and green striations. The beautifully contrasting colors and=
the
hardness of this semi-precious rock make if perfect for stone carvings.
With the most basic of facilities and virtually no utilities other =
than
sporadic and unreliable electricity and raw muscle power and talent<=
span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>, Edi=
as and
his understudies, carve these
magnificent sculptures literally in the African bush in the hot sun. He
has a well-stocked inventory and the talented young man welcomes commissions
and wholesale enquiries.
Décor uses: The piece shows great as a standalone w=
ork of
art or in a collection. A delightful addition to any African, cultural or S=
hona
Stone Art collection or theme and décor at home and the office.
Care: Wi=
pe
with damp cloth. Should you scratch or damage it, relax and see how easy it=
is
to restore to pristine condition by following our simple and effective repa=
ir
guide (go to www.kwaze-kwasa.com, click on any Shona art product and find t=
he
link to the repair guide).