Shona Sculpture is the name of the expansive community of Zimbabwean stone sculptors. Most of the artists come from the Shona tribe, the largest in the country (over 80% of the population). The Shona have a long history of working in stone that dates back over a 1000 years. The sculpture community has grown so much that it is now the largest community of stone sculptors in the world today (on a per capita basis).  

In Zimbabwe there are thousands of artists who sculpt stone as their primary occupation. There are many different strata of artists as rated by their success and recognition. In the Website's Artist section, they are grouped in three sections. The well known artists are at the top of the success pyramid. They live in nice homes in the best suburbs of Harare. They drive nice cars, send their kids to private schools, and travel abroad. The life of an up and coming artist would compare roughly to that of a person in the lower middle class here in the U.S. At the base of the pyramid are the lesser known artists who toil in relative obscurity. They, like millions of their fellow artists around the world, struggle to be heard and make a living from their creativity.

What is important to realize is that the overwhelming majority of stone sculptors are selling to an international market of collectors and galleries that pay above what local Zimbabweans can afford. Therefore those that consistently sell their work can do very well even in the turbulent times that Zimbabwe is experiencing presently. All artists negotiate their own prices as they see fit. Most artists prefer to pre-sell a sculpture directly, rather than consign the sculpture for an eventual higher price. That way they are able to turn over their sculptures and buy more stone to sculpt quickly with less risk.

Well known artists receive as much as 40% of the eventual selling price while lesser known artists can receive 10-20%. The dollars that flow into the Zimbabwean economy carry much further than they would if spent in the U.S. due to the standard of living and relative costs. Stone sculptors fare better than most in their society and will continue to do so as long as tourism is allowed to flourish.  

There are several factors that help determine the price of a particular stone sculpture. The most important is the artist's reputation. More famous artists demand higher prices for their work. Type of stone used is the second most important factor. The harder the stone is to carve, the longer it takes to create the sculpture and more valuable the sculpture is. Size of sculpture and style of work are also important in determining asculpture's value and price.  

Bill Seibert, the owner of Imba Gallery, goes on one major buying trip to Zimbabwe each year. The trip usually takes up to a month to complete. Bill visits several hundred artists in their homes, studios and workplaces.

Eventually all sculptures are brought to Harare, the capital, for packing and shipping. The sculptures are shipped in a container by truck, rail, and sea over 10,000 miles back to Portland. The process usually takes 4 months from purchase to arrival. Additional smaller shipments are arranged as needed via various contacts in Zimbabwe.  

Stone sculpting is a hard, labor intensive art form that requires multiple steps and can take anywhere from several days to several months to complete depending on its size and form. The stone is first hand quarried and transported to an artist's work place. Sculptures are then carved using an array of hand tools. such as punches, hammers, chisels, files and rasps. Many hours of sanding follow to get the sculpture smooth if that is the intended effect. the sculpture is then heated, and a clear wax is applied to it. After the wax is absorbed and cools, the sculpture is buffed to reveal the full beauty of the stone.  

Sculptures displayed indoors will only need an occasional dusting. Sculptures that are exhibited outdoors or in direct sunlight will need to be re-waxed occasionally. We recommend A thin layer of SC Johnson Paste Wax if a sculpture's finish has become dull. Apply the wax to the warmed stone (sunlight) and then buff with a soft cotton cloth after it has cooled.  

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in southeastern Africa. Slightly larger than Montana, it is bordered by Zambia and the Zambezi river to the north, South Africa and the Limpopo river to the south, Botswana to the west and Mozambique and the Inyanga mountains to the east.

The population of Zimbabwe is currently estimated at over 12 million people. More than 80 percent of these people hail from the Shona tribe making it the most ethnically homogenous country in Africa. The Shona people have a rich cultural history dating back over 1000 years. They have survived many difficulties and attacks from the outside and remain a peaceful people who mainly farm and raise livestock. They have a strong sense of tribal culture, community and family.  

Stone sculptures can be damaged in a couple ways. Either they come in contact with a harder sharp surface that chips or scratches the sculpture, or they can fall and break. Scratches will look like a white line on the stone. This is the crushed particles of the stone refracting the light, not an indication that the stone has been colored. We do repairs at the gallery, following the finishing steps the artists have taught us over the years. There are limitations to what can be repaired. Multiple fractures and many pieces make it nearly impossible to repair, but you would be surprised at how nicely most damage can be returned to new. We charge an hourly fee of $45.00 for all repairs with estimates given in advance.  

We do valuations for insurance purposes and resale at the gallery at no charge. Most sculptures are covered under a normal household insurance policy, while more expensive sculptures often require an additional rider.