AFRICAN TRIBAL CHESS SET Shona Serpentine Stone HAND-CARVED Zimbabwe #171

Description

Beautifully Hand-Carved Serpentine Stone
AFRICAN TRIBAL CHESS SET
Every piece of this beautiful stone chess set,
including the CHESS BOARD,
has been skillfully hand-carved from African stone.
The character of each piece,
from the King to the Pawn,
has been brought to life
with skillful craftsmanship
and intricate detail.
The surface of the chess board has been hand-etched and polished to show the unique color and pattern of the beautiful stone.
The underside of the chess board, where the tool marks are clearly visible, is a testament to the many hours required to create this unique set.
The chess pieces vary in size
with the tallest piece measuring approximately 3
½
” tall
.
The chess board is solid stone measuring approximately 9
¾
” x 10
½
” square
.
*As a bonus, a soft, custom made pad is also included to rest the stone chess board on.*
Carefully chosen stone skillfully crafted by talented African artisans,
this hand-sculptured chess set is a beautiful, unique work of art and entertainment
which has traveled across the world in order to grace your home.
Click on “See other items” above to view more African treasures.
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A MESSAGE FROM RIVER’S EDGE IMPORTS:
“Sadly we are closing our wholesale import business.
Our eBay listings consist of what remains of our inventory,
special
pieces
from our private collection
and
other treasures we might discover in future travels.
Quantities are limited and most items are one of a kind and will not be offered again.
Please don’t miss your chance to own it.
When it’s gone, it’s gone!”
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History of Shona Sculpture from Zimbabwe
In the late 1950s, Frank McEwen, the founding curator of the National Gallery of Southern Rhodesia, recognized the Shona peoples’ affinity with stone, and their desire to express themselves creatively. As McEwen described it, their work revealed “the images they bore in their souls”. He established a sculpture workshop at the Gallery and invited the participation of aspiring artists. Those who were interested were simply given the tools and the stone, no technical training was given. The sculptors learned from one another and taught one another. This mentoring tradition continues today with aspiring artists learning by watching the masters. Artists draw inspiration from traditional culture such as mythology, folklore, rituals and beliefs. Women are also a significant source of inspiration along with man’s relationship with nature.
In the late 1960s, the world recognized that a new art movement had been born in Africa and leading international collectors started buying Shona sculptures. Zimbabwe is now known as the “stone carving capital of the world.”
Serpentine stone was formed approximately 2.6 million years ago.
More than 225 colors and combinations of serpentine have been identified.
Verdite, also known as Africa’s “Green Gold,” is a stone particularly prized by some artists for its rich, deep emerald color and swirling striations.
It is a semi-precious stone, around 3.5 million years old, which is unfortunately becoming extremely rare and therefore increasingly more valuable.
Butter Jade or African Jade is an ancient stone found in the greenstone belt of Southern Africa and is also becoming extremely rare. It dates to over 50 million years ago. Many pieces contain evidence of the beginnings of life on Earth in the form of Micro Fossils of Blue Green Algae.
It is the complex combination of these minerals that create an extremely unique variety of mediums and a stunning color palette for Zimbabwe’s artists.
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PAYMENT accepted through PAYPAL only.
SHIPPING includes insurance and delivery confirmation to the contiguous 48 states.
PACKAGES normally ship USPS within 1 business day.
PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION CAREFULLY,
LOOK AT ALL THE PICTURES AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE BUYING.
THANK YOU!!
SS #171