Items Similar to 'Father Christmas' original stone Shona sculpture by Marowa & Chideu
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6
Tendai Marowa & Stanley Chideu'Father Christmas' original stone Shona sculpture by Marowa & Chideu2002
2002
About the Item
'Father Christmas,' an original springstone sculpture by the Zimbabwean artists Tendai Marowa and Stanley Chideu, would make an excellent holiday gift that can be displayed year-round. The sculpture presents a figure of an older man with a beard and a tall hat, both emblematic of Father Christmas himself. The figure is highly stylized in the manner of the Shona artists of Zimbabwe, with a round face with downcast eyes and square nose. The figure's beard is as well constructed of a series of parallel jagged lines, with a rough unpolished texture contrasting with the smooth polish of the face and body. As is so beloved of the Shona artists, the composition of the sculpture fits the shape of the stone as it was quarried from the earth, and areas of the surface retain its original texture.
springstone
12 x 4.5 x 7.5 inches, sculpture
1.25 x 4.25 x 11.25 inches, base
13.25 x 4.5 x 11.25 inches, overall
Overall good condition; some minor scattered scratches to surface; intentional rustication to base
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 provide artists with a medium for sculpture and carvings unique to their country. The Shona art sculpture of Zimbabwe combines the wonderful varieties presented by the stone with images drawn both from reality and abstract symbolism.
Much of the stone used by Shona artists is quarried in areas which are adjacent or quite near the villages where the work is created. Often the land on which the stone is found is owned by the village or the local artists. The artists use stone such as Serpentine (somewhat old, having been formed about 2.6 billion years ago), with more than 200 color variations. The hardest and darkest of the Serpentine varieties is black, commonly known as Springstone or Africa stone. Less seen is Lepidolite, with its beautiful pale mauve coloration; and the very hard Verdite, found mostly in darker shades of green but with other variations as well.
Commonly referred to as Rapoko stone in Zimbabwe, Steatite is a natural soft stone that falls under the general category of soapstone. Rapoko is found on every continent in the world with the possible exception of Antarctica. Its remarkable qualities have made this stone one of the most widely used minerals on earth. Over 10 million years old, Rapoko is a natural mineral, prized since ancient times for its durability, workability, beautiful character and ability to retain and radiate heat and resist chemicals. Native cultures, the world over, have carved Rapoko/Steatite into vessels, art objects, memorial and cultural items. Carved items have been found in the tombs of Pharaohs, in the igloos of the far north, in temples and palaces of China and India, in the mountains and river valleys of the Americas and the arid plains of Africa. There is a manmade ceramic product, also called Steatite, which uses the natural Rapoko stone as one of its raw materials but has no other connection to the skillful efforts of talented Shona and other African artists.
The wonderful natural character of stone is used both in its rough cut and textured state, or heated and burnished to a high gloss to reveal rich greens, browns, blacks and grays. The hardness, shape, density and quantity used of serpentine, verdite, sandstone, granite, steatite and other stones define the ultimate presentation of completed Shona art sculptures and carvings.
- Creator:Tendai Marowa & Stanley Chideu (Shona, Zimbabwean)
- Creation Year:2002
- Dimensions:Height: 13.25 in (33.66 cm)Width: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)Depth: 11.25 in (28.58 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:Overall good condition; some minor scattered scratches to surface; intentional rustication to base.
- Gallery Location:Milwaukee, WI
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
4.9
Platinum Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are 1stDibs' most experienced sellers and are rated highest by our customers.
Established in 1966
1stDibs seller since 2017
392 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Milwaukee, WI
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
More From This SellerView All
- "My Dear Friend, " Green Serpentine Stone signed by Chemedu Jemali a ShonaBy Chemedu JemaliLocated 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
MaterialsStone
- "Joyful Bowler, " Serpentine Sculpture signed by Felix Mlungisi an African ShonaBy Felix MlungisiLocated 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
MaterialsStone
- 'African Queen' Shona stone sculpture signed by Chenjerai ChiripanyangaBy Chenjerai ChiripanyangaLocated 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
MaterialsStone
- 'Famine' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Rangarirai MakundeBy Rangarirai MakundeLocated in Milwaukee, WI'Famine' is an original springstone sculpture signed by the Zimbabwean artist Rangarirai Makunde. The sculpture presents a solitary figure who stands facing directly forward. He hold...Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsStone
- 'Dressed For Tonight' Shona stone sculpture signed by Rangarirai MakundeBy Rangarirai MakundeLocated in Milwaukee, WI'Dressed For Tonight' is an original black serpentine stone sculpture signed by the Zimbabwean artist Rangarirai Makunde. The sculpture presents the figure of a tall and elegant woma...Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsStone
- 'Scratching Bird' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Rangarirai MakundeBy Rangarirai MakundeLocated 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
MaterialsStone
You May Also Like
- Boxing Head Gear by KARTEL - unique handcarved marble sculpture - smooth finishBy KARTELLocated in Dallas, TXThis is a gorgeous hand-carved black marble head gear. The marble is polished and has an amazing tactile feeling. This piece celebrates our connection to e...Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsStone, Marble
- Continued Conversations IVBy Deborah BallardLocated in Dallas, TXThe figure has always been Deborah Ballard’s muse in her sculptures. Ballard works in bronze, cast stone, and plaster; her figures ranging from life-size to hand-size. Ballard says, ...Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Sculptures
MaterialsCast Stone, Iron
- Rethinking It AllBy Deborah BallardLocated in Dallas, TXThis sculpture is cast and manipulated stone, fiberglass, iron, and casters. Deborah Ballard is best known for conceiving of figures and groupings of figures who relate to one anoth...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsCast Stone, Iron
- CensoredLocated in Miami, FLJoseph's statement pieces both literally and figuratively reflect their audience - drawing attention to phrases, words, or expressions that challenge the viewer to look beneath the s...Category
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
MaterialsConcrete, Stainless Steel
- Maurizio Cattelan L.O.V.E. (2015) Concrete sculpture Art Limited EditionBy Maurizio CattelanLocated in Zug, CHMaurizio Cattelan L.O.V. E. 2015 Concrete 40 × 18 × 18 cm (15.7 × 7.1 × 7.1 in) Stamped by artist's estate Edition of 1800 In mint condition, in the original wooden crate and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity The statue, which bears the title of L.O.V.E., stands for Libertà, Odio, Vendetta, Eternità (Freedom, Hate, Vengeance, Eternity),was created in 2010 to stay in Piazza Affari (business district) in Milan. The artist himself states that the statue is an anti-fascist statement, transforming Italy’s Fascist...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsConcrete
- Family Tree II 3/8By Kevin BoxLocated in Napa, CAPainted cast stainless steel, patinated bronze, granite base “It took two years of tireless experimentation for me to develop the process of casting paper into bronze, another seven...Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsGranite, Bronze, Steel
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Sculptured Stone
Stone Sculpture Forms
Polished Green Stone
Black Stone Sculptures
Large Stone Sculpture
Face Sculpture Large
Formations Stone
Polished Stone Sculpture
Standing Stones
Green Stone Sculpture
Natural Raw Stones
Green Figure Sculpture
Black Sculpture Tall
Raw Wood Sculptures
Ancient Stone Sculptures
Large Round Large Sculpture
Round Large Sculpture
Stone Sculpture Chinese