Zimbabwe Shona sculpture
            from Saper Galleries
Hand-carved Shona stone
          sculpture from Zimbabwe

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Enjoy the Saper Galleries display Couples and Families: Hand-carved Shona Stone Sculpture from Zimbabwe in the center gallery.   And yes, we can ship your selection to you anywhere in the world!

The sale of these sculptures provides opportunities and education for the families of  the artists who live in a country where the unemployment rate is 95% and the GDP is under $100 per capita.  Nearly 70% of the population lives in poverty and life expectancy is the mid-30s.  The country's budget of $133 million is not much more than the cost of a Van Gogh or Picasso painting.


The basic tenant of the Shona people is "live together and the culture will thrive".  The spirits of the Shona peoples' ancestors come to them in their dreams to reveal the images that dwell within the rock.  After quarrying the rock with pickax and pry bar, the artists use handmade tools to release the spirits trapped within the multicolored serpentine. 

Shona sculptures impress, stimulate and inspire.

A central belief and practice in traditional Shona culture is ukama, which means living together in close family relationships.  Family ties are all-important to these people, and from birth through death and beyond, Shona families are bound together in the mutual respect, support and love that is the greater extended family -- ukama.

These family relationships, as depicted in this sculpture -- and extending to aunts, uncles, cousins and more distant kin -- form the foundation for communities all over Zimbabwe.

In the family support system of the Shona people of Zimbabwe, a life-long process of acculturation ensures that children will grow to respect and honor their elders and ancestors, live humbly, and preserve the traditions that have ensured the survival of their people for more than a thousand years.

The Shona society has a strict hierarchy which has no room for arrogance, pride or greed because each member is important to the survival of the community.  The old must respect and nurture the children because they are the future; and, the children must also willingly respect the elders because their experience and wisdom will protect and sustain the societal values and family fabric.

These sculptures started with the artist traveling in the Zimbabwe countryside in search of a particularly powerful stone spirit.  The stone is dug out of the earth and chiseled (for weeks or months depending on the size and hardness of the stone) to reveal a colorful soul which finally appears in the final washing stages, just before firing and polishing.

Robert Mugabe, one time president of Zimbabwe, said the "Shona art is something like the anthem of our freedom, and remains now at the center of our culture...(in fact) the artists are the precursors of our history."

In the Shona sculptures here at Saper Galleries, the cultural and national identity of the Shona people has, literally, been carved in stone.

Sculptures like these evoke the feelings of harmony and peace -- ukama -- that earn the blessings of the ancestors and reminds them of our closer global family.


Enjoy!                         ~ Roy C. Saper
 
Family of
                        5
Family of 5
Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture by Edmore Tendai
15" tall
Sorry, sold for $475

Dancing family of 3
Dancing Family of 3 < New!
Hand-carved cobalt stone sculpture by Francis Chikowore
13 3/4" tall
$780


Family of
                        4
Family of 4
Hand-carved brown serpentine stone sculpture

by Bvumai Chiripanyanga
16" tall
Sorry, sold for $720

Family of 5
Family of 5
Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
by Edmore Tendai
13 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $450

 
Family of 4
Family of 4
Hand-carved black serpentine stone sculpture by Bamusi Dzikupuweni
18 3/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $750


Family of 4
Family of 4
Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture

by Edmore Tendai
12" tall
Sorry, sold for $400
Family of 3
Family of 3
Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture

by Edmore Tendai
12 1/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $380
Family of
                        3
Family of 3
Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture by Edmore Tendai
13" tall
Sorry, sold for $380
Encircled family of four small
Encircled Dancing Family of Four (small)
Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture by Francis Chikowore.
13 1/2" tall

Sorry, sold for $680
Encircled family of 4 large
Encircled Dancing Family of Four (large)
Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture by Francis Chikowore.
18 3/4" tall
$1,480

Family of
                        four red jasper stone
Joyful Family of Four
 
Hand-carved red jasper stone sculpture
Red jasper is known as a stone of empowerment, bringing strength to resist emotional dominance by others.
16" tall

Sorry, sold for $540

Family of 4
Family of 4
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
13" tall
Sorry, sold for $360

Family of 4
Family of 4
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
13" tall
Sorry, sold for $380

Family of 4
Family of 4
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
22 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $750
Family of 5
Family of 5
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture signed W Chikore
26 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $1,300
Family of 6
Family of 6
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
20" tall
$700

The serpentine stone sculptures shown below were all created for Saper Galleries by artist Emmanuel Makoni from his home in Zimbabwe.   Each is unique and totally hand-carved by the artist and polished smooth.   The photos below show the actual sculptures that were in our inventory.   Many visitors to Saper Galleries have acquired the sculptures to give away as anniversary, wedding, and holiday gifts.  Perhaps you may know someone who would enjoy displaying one on a desk or bookshelf as a gift from you!

A
Family of 4
4 5/8" tall
Sorry, sold for $75


B
Family of 4
4 3/8" tall
Sorry, sold for $75

C
Family of 4
4 3/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $75
D
Encircled Couple
4 1/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $95

E
Encircled Family of Four
4 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $125
F
Parent and Child
5 1/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $75
G
Parent and Child
5" tall
Sorry, sold for $75

H
Family of 5
5 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $85
I
Family of 5
  6" tall
Sorry, sold for $88

J
Couple
5 3/8" tall
Sorry, sold for 80

K
Couple
6 1/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $85
L
Couple
7" tall
Sorry, sold for $90

M
Couple
6 3/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $90


O
Giraffe Lovers
  5 1/8" tall
Sorry, sold for $78
P
Giraffe Lovers (smooth)
  5 1/8" tall
Sorry, sold for $75

Q
Giraffe Family
  9" tall
Sorry, sold for $120
R
Giraffe Couple
  9 1/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $140

Sorry, the sculptures shown below have all been sold.
MakoniParentAndChild60.JPG
Parent and Child
4 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $60
Parent and
                  child
Parent and Child
4 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $60
Couple
Couple
  8" tall
Sorry, sold for $75
Family of 3
Family of 3
4" tall
Sorry, sold for $65

Family of 3
Family of 3
4" tall
Sorry, sold for $65
Family of 3
Family of 3
5" tall
Sorry, sold for $68
Family of 3
Family of 3
5" tall
Sorry, sold for $68
Family of 4
Family of 4
4" tall
Sorry, sold for $70
Family of 4
Family of 4
4" tall
Sorry, sold for $70
Family of 4
Family of 4
6 3/8" tall
Sorry, sold for $78

Family of 4
Family of 4
13 1/4" tall
Sorry sold for $220


Family
                    of four
Family of 4
  Light stone
  12" tall
Sorry sold for $290
Family of 5
Family of 5
6" tall
Sorry, sold for $80
Family of 5
Family of 5
8" tall
Sorry, sold for $110
Shona
Family of 5
  Brown stone
  11" tall
Sorry sold for $290
Shona
Family of 5
  Brown stone
  12 1/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $290


Family of 6
Family of 6
3" tall
Sorry, sold for $78
Family of 6
Family of 6
6" tall
Sorry, sold for $85
Family of 6
Family of 6
7" tall
Sorry, sold for $95
Family of 7
Family of 7
  Serpentine stone
By Taurai Mlambo
15" tall
Sorry, sold for $400
Shona
Inscribed couple (rough)
Serpentine stone
  12 1/4" tall with
8" figures
Sorry, sold for $280

Inscriber Family of Four
  Inscribed Family of Four
Hand-carved serpentine sculpture from Zimbabwe
  8" tall x 7.25" wide x 2.75" deep
Sorry, sold for $290
Inscribed couple
Inscribed couple (rough)
Serpentine stone
  15 1/2" tall
with 7 3/4" figures
Sorry, sold for $320
Inscribed couple (rough)
Inscribed couple (rough)
Serpentine stone
  15 1/2" tall
with 8 1/2" figures
Sorry, sold for $340
Family of Three
Circular Family of Three
Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
Signed by artist Evans Masenda
18 1/2" tall x 17" wide x 4" deep

Sorry, sold for $1,750
Parent and
                  child
Parent and Child
6 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $70

Parent and
                  child
Parent and Child
6 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $75
Couple
Couple
  4" tall
Sorry, sold for $60
Couple
Couple
  6" tall
Sorry, sold for $70
Couple
Couple
  7 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $75
Couple
Couple
  16" tall
Sorry, sold for $160


Couple
Couple
 18" tall
Sorry, sold for $180
Family of 3
Family of 3
6 1/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $75
Family of 3
Family of 3
7 3/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $80
Family of 3, 6"
Family of 3
Serpentine, 6" tall
Sorry, sold for $90

Family of 3
Family of 3
6 1/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $75
Family of 3
Family of 3
8 3/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $85


Fasmily of 3, 6"
Family of 3
6" tall
Sorry, sold for $90
Family of 3
Family of 3 
Brown serpentine stone
By Taurai Mlambo
12" tall
Sorry, sold for $300

Family of 4
Family of 4
6" tall
Sorry, sold for $75
Family of 4
Family of 4
6 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $78

Family of 4
Family of 4
6 3/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $78
Family of 4
Family of 4
8 1/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $85
Family of 4
Family of 4
8" tall
Sorry, sold for $85
Family of 4
Family of 4
8 1/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $110
Family of 4
Family of 4
8" tall
Sorry, sold for $110


Family of 4, 6"
Family of 4
Serpentine stone
  6" tall
Sorry, sold for $120
Family of 4
Family of 4 
Rapoko stone
By Taurai Mlambo
6" tall
Sorry, sold for $120

Family of 4
Family of 4
12" tall
Sorry, sold for $220
Family of four
Family of 4
  Dark stone
  12" tall
Sorry, sold for $290

Family of 4
Family of 4
  Green serpentine stone
By Taurai Mlambo
12 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $300

Family of 4
Family of 4
  Serpentine stone
Emmanuel Makoni
16" tall
Sorry, sold for $500
Family of 4
Family of 4
 
Hand-carved green serpentine stone sculpture signed T. Mtigwa
15 1/2" tall

Sorry, sold for $540
Family of 4
Family of 4
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
23" tall
Sorry, sold for $800

N
Inscribed Family of Five
By Emmanuel Makoni
4 1/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $130
Family of 5
Family of 5
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
13" tall
Sorry, sold for $380

Family of 5
Family of 5
4 3/8" tall
Sorry, sold for $75

Family of 5
Family of 5
4 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $78
Famly of 5
Family of 5
6" tall
Sorry, sold for $80
Family of 5
Family of 5
8" tall
Sorry, sold for $110

Family of 5
Family of 5 
Serpentine stone
By Taurai Mlambo
6" tall
Sorry, sold for $150


Family of 5, 6"
Family of 5
Serpentine stone
  6" tall
Sorry, sold for $150
Shona
Family of 5
  Green stone
  11 1/4"  tall
We donated to Habitat for Humanity

Shona
Family of 5
  Serpentine stone
  12 1/2" tall
$290

Sorry, no longer available
Shona
Family of 5
  Dark stone
  11 7/8" tall
Sorry, sold for $290

Famly of 5
Family of 5
  Green serpentine stone
By Taurai Mlambo
12" tall
Sorry, sold for $300
Family of 5
Family of 5
  Soapstone
By Emmanuel Makoni
15 3/4" tall

Sorry, sold for $500
Family of Five
Family of 5
Hand-carved serpentine
By L. Maruza
31 1/2" x 14" x 9"
Sorry, sold for $1,975

Family of 6
Family of 6
9 3/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $140
Family of 6
Family of 6
9 3/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $140

Family of 6,
                    6"
Family of 6
  Brown stone
  6" tall
Sorry, sold for $170

Family of 6, 11
                      1/2"
Family of 6
  Brown stone
  11 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $290

Family of 6
Family of 6
  Dark stone
  11 7/8" tall
Sorry, sold for $290


Family of 6
Family of 6
  Serpentine stone
By Taurai Mlambo
18" tall
Sorry, sold for $700

Family of 6
Family of 6
  Rapoko stone
By Taurai Mlambo
19 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $800

Family of 7
Family of 7
  Brown rapoko
By Taurai Mlambo
12" tall
Sorry, sold for $350

Family of 7
Family of 7
  Rapoko stone
By Taurai Mlambo
15 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $400
Family of 7
Family of 7
  Brown rapoko stone
By Taurai Mlambo
17" tall, $700
Contributed by Saper Galleries to Sparrow Foundation

Family of 7
Family of 7
  Serpentine stone
By Taurai Mlambo
17" tall
Sorry, sold for $700
Family of 7
Family of 7
  Green serpentine stone
By Taurai Mlambo
23 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $900


Family of 8
Family of 8
  Brown rapoko stone
By Taurai Mlambo
23 1/2" tall
Gift from Saper Galleries to
Michigan State University
Small couple inscribed
Inscribed couple (rough)
5 3/4" tall x 5 1/2"
Sorry, sold for $160


Small inscribed
                    couple
Inscribed couple (rough)
6 3/4" tall x 6"
Sorry, sold for $180

Shona
Inscribed couple (rough)
Serpentine stone
  12" tall with
8 3/4" figures
Sorry, sold for $280

Shona
Inscribed couple (rough)
Serpentine stone
  12 3/4" tall with
6 1/2" figures
Sorry, sold for $280

ShonaInscribedCoupleRough7x612-290.jpg
Inscribed couple (rough)
Serpentine stone
  7 x 6 1/2"
Sorry, sold for $290
Shona
Inscribed couple (rough)
Serpentine stone
  15 1/2" tall
with 8" center
Sorry, sold for $310
Couple (rough)
Inscribed couple (rough)
Serpentine stone
  15 1/2" tall
with 7 1/2" figures
Sorry, sold for $320
ShonaInscribedCoupleRough13x9-380.jpg
Inscribed couple (rough)
Serpentine stone
  13 x 9"
Sorry, sold for $380
ShonaInscribedCoupleSmooth11x10-380.jpg
Inscribed couple (smooth)
Serpentine stone
  11 x 10"
Sorry, sold for $380
Shona
Inscribed couple (rough)
Serpentine stone
  16 5/8" tall
Sorry, sold $390

ShonaInscribedCoupleRough16x11-580.jpg
Inscribed couple (rough)
Serpentine stone
  16 x 11"
Sorry, sold for $580
ShonaInscribedCoupleSmooth17x17-650.jpg
Inscribed couple (smooth)
Serpentine stone
  17 x 17"
$650
Gift from Saper Galleries to Michigan State University
Loving Arm
Loving Arm
Highly polished hand-carved fruit serpentine stone sculpture
By David Gopito
18 1/2" tall x 17" wide x 8" deep
Sorry, sold for $1,975
Lovers heart A
Lover's Heart A
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
5 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $85

Lover's heart B
Lover's Heart B
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
5 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $85

Couple
Couple with Crossed Arms
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture, 11" tall
Sorry, sold for $300

Couple
Couple Embrace
Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
  11 3/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $300

Encircled
                  couple
Encircled Couple
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
9 1/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $310

Encircled couple
Encircled Couple
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
10" tall
Sorry, sold for $330

Encircled
                  Couple
Encircled Couple
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
10 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $330

Encircled
                  Couple
Encircled Couple
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
10 3/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $380

Family of 4
Family of 4
  Hand-carved dark green serpentine stone sculpture signed T. Mtigwa
17 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $580

Family of 5
Family of 5
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture signed Francis Chikowore
21 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $800

Family of 5
Family of 5
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture signed Chikowore
28 1/2" tall
Sorry, sold for $1,500

Shona family of 7
Family of 7
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture signed Taurai Mlambo
15" tall
Sorry, sold for $400
Family of 6
Family of 6
  Hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture
12 1/4" tall
Sorry, sold for $370



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