Elephant Parent and Child

This abstract elephant parent and child duo is carved out of serpentine, the most common stone used in Zimbabwean sculpture and found in many deposits throughout the country. Its colors vary from black to brown to green, and variegated. The Shona of Zimbabwe, literally translated as "the house of stone," are considered by many to be among the world's finest sculptors. Modern Shona artisans select and quarry their own stones, just as they did thousands of years ago. Statues are hand-carved using simple chisels, polished with sand and beeswax, and heated on a fire to bring out their brilliant colors.