A hand carved Shona sculpture in solid serpentine stone, created in Zimbabwe in the 1990s. The figure stands in a compact, inward pose, defined by a curved head and crossed arms that anchor the composition in a gesture of contained strength.
Carved from a single block, the stone reveals layered mineral variations in muted greens and earthy tones. The face is reduced to essential geometry horizontal eyes, a structured nose and defined lips reflecting the formal clarity associated with late 20th-century Shona carving. The volumes remain rounded yet controlled, balancing mass with vertical lift.
Rooted in the Shona sculptural movement, the work embodies the tradition’s direct carving method and spiritual abstraction. The presence is grounded and self contained, where weight and silence take precedence over narrative detail.
About the Tradition
Shona sculpture emerged in mid-20th-century Zimbabwe and gained international recognition for its direct stone carving and symbolic abstraction. By the 1990s, later generations continued this language in independent ateliers, refining form while maintaining material integrity.
Condition
Very good condition with normal age appropriate signs of wear.
Details
Origin: Zimbabwe
Period: 1990s
Designer: Unknown Shona sculptor
Material: Solid serpentine stone
Type: Hand carved stone sculpture
Dimensions H 91 x W 48 x D 13 cm
Stock nr 01170226OM
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsGrey, GreenMaterialStoneNumber of items1OrientationPortraitArt sizeMediumHeight91 cmWidth48 cmSigns of usageScratches