"Acacia" Sculpture

Shona sculptors often say that they are inspired by their dreams. The spirits of their ancestors speak to them in their dreams, and allow the sculptors to release the spirit within the stone. These spirits not only reveal themselves in the sculpture, they guide the entire sculpting process. The result is an inspiring dialogue between carved forms and the natural ruggedness of the rock.

Leopard Stone is a very hard and rare variety of serpentine stone found only in the smaller mines in eastern Zimbabwe. It is named leopard stone for its black and white spots and details on a bright and lime green background. Zimbabwe is the only place in the world where you can find Leopard Stone. Only the most skilled artists pick this stone as it is very difficult to carve.

Dating back to 1956 until today, stone sculptures in Zimbabwe are the best-known manifestation of African contemporary art. Northern Zimbabwe has uniquely large amounts of carvable stone. The stone was so important to the people that the name ‘Shona’ is derived from a word in their native language that means ‘house of stone.’ There is no technical artistic training in Shona sculpture. Sculpting skills are passed down through families and the large and hard stones are carved with only a hammer and chisel.