Items Similar to 'Mother Elephant with Baby' original small sculpture, heirloom gift
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
Unknown'Mother Elephant with Baby' original small sculpture, heirloom gift20th century
20th century
About the Item
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, but also demonstrates the clever use of the texture of the stone. The sculpture is highly stylized: the mother elephant's head emerges from the top of the stone, her face and trunk long and thin, and her ears bursting out like wings on either side. The face is repeated with her baby below, and both are polished smooth. The bodies of the two, however, are merely suggested by the rough-hewn shape of the stone behind. The use of texture of their bodies is ingenious, using a series of crossing lines to create a rough surface that mimics the appearance of real elephant skin and contrasts with the polished surface of their faces. These formal qualities of the sculpture allow the themes of motherhood and love come to the forefront of the artwork.
This small sculpture is a perfect gift for any mother!
Unknown Shona artist
'Mother Elephant with Baby,' late 20th century
red jasper stone
6.5 x 4.87 x 1.25 inches, sculpture
4.5 x 8.25 x 8 inches, base
11 x 8.25 x 8 inches, overall
Good overall condition; some scattered minor scratches; chip along proper right ear of mother elephant
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.
- Creation Year:20th century
- Dimensions:Height: 11 in (27.94 cm)Width: 8.25 in (20.96 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:Good overall condition; some scattered minor scratches; chip along proper right ear of mother elephant.
- 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 PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Africa Female Artist Stone Sculpture Figure Celebrate Modern Contemporary SignedBy Colleen MadamombeLocated in Milwaukee, WI"Celebrations (C-56)" is an original black serpentine stone sculpture by Colleen Madamombe. The artist signed the piece, and it weighs 228 pounds. This piece features a woman with a ...Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsStone
- "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
- "Traditional Dresser, " Opal Stone Sculpture by Shona Sculptor Washington MsonzaBy Washington MsonzaLocated 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
MaterialsStone
- "Calling Head, " Opal Stone Sculpture signed by Shona artist Gift MuchenjeBy Gift MuchenjeLocated 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
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
- 'Family' original signed Shona stone sculpture by Wonder Mazhindu BumhiraBy Wonder Mazhindu BumhiraLocated 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
MaterialsStone
You May Also Like
- Gorila - 21st Century, Contemporary Sculpture, Figurative, Marble, IronLocated in Barcelona, CataloniaAparici's work is characterized by simplicity, since most of his pieces bring together few elements, resulting in very elegant compositions with simple lines, which together with his...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsMarble, Iron
- Prada Sculpture Lapis Lazuli on Marble Big Blue Art In StockBy Theo MackaayLocated in Utrecht, NLPrada Sculpture Lapis Lazuli on Marble Big Blue Art In Stock Theo Mackaay (1950) Mackaay works with recognizable shape:: women, men and animals, with a pointer at the primal form. ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsMarble
- Danza ( Dance ) - hand carved figurative Carrara marble frieze relief sculptureBy Lorenzo VignoliLocated in San Francisco, CADANZA (Dance) by Lorenzo Vignoli striking hand carved Carrara marble frieze relief by contemporary Italian sculptor Lorenzo Vignoli, incorporating mesmer...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsStone, Marble
- 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
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Stone Sculpture Forms
Stone Earings
Black Stone Sculptures
Large Stone Sculpture
Polished Green Stone
With Supplies
Chinese Stone Sculptures
Stone Sculpture Chinese
Sculptures Made In China
African Wood Sculptures
African Wood Sculpture
Wood Sculpture Africa
Body Sculpture Stone
Polished Stone Sculpture
Standing Stones
Ancient Stone Sculptures
Stone Head Large
Stone Head Sculpture