Mid-20th Century Large African Blackwood Makonde "Tree of Life" Ujamaa Sculpture – 45"h

Details

Description

Overview
An exceptional, monumental mid-20th-century African Makonde "Tree of Life" (Ujamaa) sculpture, hand-carved from a single, massive block of solid … Read more Overview
An exceptional, monumental mid-20th-century African Makonde "Tree of Life" (Ujamaa) sculpture, hand-carved from a single, massive block of solid African Blackwood (Mpingo). Standing at an impressive 45 inches tall and weighing a hefty 58 pounds, this museum-quality statement piece represents the absolute pinnacle of East African figurative carving from its most celebrated era.
Design & Symbolism
This intricate work features dozens of interconnected, fluid human figures stacked seamlessly upon one another, ascending toward the sky. In the traditional Makonde Ujamaa style, this motif represents collective unity, family lineage, and community support. The carver masterfully utilizes the wood's natural dense contours to breathe life, expression, and movement into every individual figure, creating a captivating 360-degree viewing experience.
Provenance & Material
This sculpture was acquired directly from the estate of an avid art collector who lived in Kenya during the 1970s—the definitive "Golden Era" of the modern Makonde art movement. True to authentic, gallery-grade tribal pieces of this period, it is purposefully unsigned. The sculpture is believed to be carved from genuine African Blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon), traditionally traded as African Ebony. Known as one of the densest and heaviest woods on Earth, its high oil content gives it a naturally lustrous, smooth finish. When viewed under direct light, the tight grain reveals stunning, subtle undertones of deep plum and dark chocolate. See less