Shona Stone Sculpture I, Zimbabwe

Artist Unknown

Zimbabwean Stone sculptures are often called Shona Sculptures. Zimbabwe, a southern African country whose name literally means “the house of stone,” is known for its remarkable stone sculptors. The Shona sculptors’ work is often inspired by deeply-held spiritual beliefs, folklore and daily life, and have in turn inspired many western artists. While modern in inspiration, Shona sculptures are created much as they were in the past, using simple chisels to “release” the spirits of the stone.

For more information on Shona Sculptures, click here.

Inuit art, produced by the people of the Arctic, are historically carved from walrus ivory. Since the establishment of southern markets for Inuit art in 1945, however, the use of soft stone such as soapstone, serpentine, or argillite for the carving of figurative works has increased in popularity.

For more information regarding Inuit Stone Sculptures, click here.