Original Lazarus Takawira Shona Springstone Sculpture on Polished Stone Base

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This original Lazarus Takawira sculpture carries the quiet authority that defines the finest works of the Zimbabwean Shona stone movement.

… Read more This original Lazarus Takawira sculpture carries the quiet authority that defines the finest works of the Zimbabwean Shona stone movement.

Hand carved in springstone — one of the hardest and most revered materials used in Shona sculpture — the work balances raw geological texture against highly refined carving with remarkable restraint. The polished abstract face emerges from a naturally fractured stone form, creating the tension between untouched material and human intervention that became a defining characteristic of Takawira’s work.

Lazarus Takawira (1952–2021) was part of Zimbabwe’s celebrated Takawira sculpting family and is recognized internationally for his contributions to modern African stone sculpture. His works have appeared in major institutional and international collections including the Musée Rodin in Paris, the World Bank collection, and the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.

What makes this piece especially compelling is its dual presence: from a distance it reads as a minimalist sculptural form, while up close the hand-incised detailing, mineral veining, and precise facial carving reveal extraordinary craftsmanship and material sensitivity.

Mounted on its original polished black springstone base, the sculpture possesses both visual stillness and substantial physical presence — the kind of piece interior designers and collectors use to anchor a space rather than simply accessorize it.

Since Takawira’s passing in 2021, original works have become increasingly sought after by collectors of contemporary African art and Shona sculpture. See less