64" EBONY Tribal FAMILY TREE Surrealism AFRICAN ART One-of-a-kind MAKONDE Museum

Description

THE TRIBAL UJAMAA STATUE OFFERED HERE IS A
UNIQUE ONE-OF-A-KIND
MASTERPIECE
MASSIVE SCULPTURE - 64 inches (162 cm) Height & 120+ pounds (50 kgs)
AN ENORMOUS
ONE OF A KIND TRIBAL GEM
(Arguably, the Largest Such Statue in Existence)
A WORK OF ART FROM THE VERY COMMUNITY HERALDED AS
THE INSPIRATION OF ALL SURREALISTIC ART,
e.g. Salvador Dali, Paul Klee, Picasso
MUSEUM WORTHY -
PERHAPS THE LARGEST
MAKONDE FAMILY TREE AVAILABLE ANYWHERE
AUTHENTIC AFRICAN ART ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECE OF ORIGINAL ART
"UJAMAA" MEANS "FAMILY TIES" AND IS OFTEN USED TO REFER TO THE SPECTACULAR CARVED "FAMILY TREES" CREATED BY THE MAKONDE TRIBE OF MOZAMBIQUE AND SOUTHERN TANZANIA
Makonde Ujamaa or Tree of Life History
Roberto Yakobo Sangwani left his home Mozambique and headed for Tanzania in the late 1950’s. With him he brought a style of Makonde art formally known as Dimoongo, meaning ‘power of strength’ or ‘tree of life’. Traditionally these sculptures portrayed clusters of connected wrestlers holding up a winning victor. Gradually, the main figure shifted to represent tribal heads or other people in unity with community members or family. Regardless, of who the central figure of a sculpture is, the organization of this style represents one central figure, surrounded by and supported by other figures. These figures exemplify ujamaa (family ties) or relationships in a community and bring forth the underlying reverence the Makonde have for their ancestors.
IN ADDITION TO THE UNIQUE SURREALISTIC STYLE OF MAKONDE ART, THE VERY IMPETUS FOR THIS ART IS UP FOR DEBATE
While many insist that Makonde art is simply a modern version of tribal sculpture and little else, there are traditionalist who believe the art is created by individuals who carve the hard ebony wood without any plan or knowledge of the resulting work - rather, the claim is that these artisians are instead driven by visions (drug induced or otherwise) and are as surprised by the result as are all others.
THE SELLER OF THIS ITEM HAS PERSONALLY OBSERVED THESE DISPARITIES IN THE ARTISTS' ATTITUDES, AND HAVE SEEN THE EXTREMES MENTIONED, THOUGH MOST OFTEN IT SEEMS THE ARTIST IN QUESTION WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF EACH . . .
SPIRITUAL AS WELL AS ARTISTIC INSPIRATION
The Spectacular Statue here was personally collected in East Africa more than 40 years ago. It's transport to the US, possible back then, has been made much more difficult of late by new regulations as well as the sheer size and weight of moving such a piece from Africa to the US safely.
The Ujamaa offered here was the centerpiece of THE BUSH, a tribal art gallery in South Florida during the 1980s. For the past 30+ years it has been in temperature controlled storage. As shown in the photographs here, overall excellent condition with few small expansion cracks as is the norm with such ebony carvings.
THE UJAMAA MAKONDE SCULPTURE IS CARVED FROM EBONY WOOD
THE HARDEST AND HEAVIEST WOOD KNOWN TO MAN
MAKING  IT ALL THE MORE DIFFICULT TO CARVE BY HAND
AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, EBONY WOOD IS A DEEP-DARK BROWN IN COLOR THOUGH IT HAS A MORE NEUTRAL CREAM COLORED BARK
The completion of these larger Ujamaas necessitates many many months of arguous work. Mastering the carving of the hardest blackwoods, such as ebony, using only the most rudimentary of tools is a skill which has all but disappeared as time marches on. The enormous piece offered here took the artist more than seven months to complete! Yet, when the artist was asked about the unimaginable task of creating such a masterpiece, he stated that the artistry was the easy part, he insisted that actually transporting the huge tree trunk through the African bush country was a much more difficult task than the months of sculpting!
NOTE, IN THE HALF CENTURY OR SO SINCE THIS STATUE WAS CREATED, EBONY AND MOST ALL THE OTHER SPECIES OF BLACKWOODS ARE ENDANGERED
THUS, THE COMBINATION OF FACTORS IMPACTING THE CREATION OF SUCH WORKS AS THESE IN THE FUTURE ALL BUT IMPOSSIBLE
1 - Ebony, et.al, - ENDANGERED or EXTINCT
2 - Traditional Workmanship & Artists - MODERNIZED
3 - Transportation of Heavy Works - PROHIBITIVE COST & REGULATIONS
OBVIOUSLY, THESE FACTORS MAKE ANY MAKONDE STATUE AN EXCELLENT INVESTMENT . . .
IMAGINE THE UPSIDE FOR THIS, PERHAPS THE LARGEST MAKONDE UJAMAA IN THE WORLD
- A TREASURE BEYOND MEASURE FOR THE SERIOUS ART COLLECTOR -
SPECTACULAR GIFT or FOR YOUR OWN COLLECTION
Shipping within the Continental USA is Included
We are liquidating all from 50+ year collections
Super Discounts - Lots of One of a Kind Items
Former newspaper publisher is liquidating the most amazing items collected over the past fifty plus years. Prices often cents on the dollar. Check out all listings, and don't be afraid to make an offer ALL MUST GO ASAP. Rare books, Peter Max and Alexandra Nechita and Chinese Art, baseball and show business autographs and collectibles, signed documents ranging from Thomas Edison to Neil Armstrong to John Lennon to Presidents of the USA. Countless unique items for your own collections, or to give as a unique and much cherished gift. But, all is limited so don't delay - check out all our other listings now. STAY SAFE