Dolphins Walking - Shona(Zimbabwe) - Opal Stone - Charles Ranzvenga - B115

Description

'Two Dolphins walking' - by Charles Renzvenga of the Shona tribe in Zimbabwe. Sculpted from Opal stone. The date created is unknown.  On the botton B115 is inscribed twice.
Dimensions:
Height:  appx. 11 1/2" at the highest point
Width:   8 "
Depth:   6"
About the artist:
CHARLES RANZVENGA:
Ranzvenga is a member of the Shona tribe and his totem is the
Shumba
(lion). He grew up in a rural area where his grandfather was a blacksmith, making axes, hoes, and spears which were sold to the local community.
Ranzvenga's father was a peasant farmer who had great financial difficulty raising his five children but wished him to finish high school.  His grandfather on the other hand wanted Ranzvenga to become a blacksmith.  To solve the family dispute, Ranzvenga was sent to Harare to live with his brother Lazarus, a carver.  He met his present wife while in high school and she became pregnant while he was still at school.  Her bride price was ,000 and the penalty for premarital pregnancy an additional seven head of cattle.  In order to support his new wife, Ranzvenga began working after school and on weekends for Chatambudza Mushinga, a local carver. He worked for Mushinga for three years.
After completing high school Ranzvenga apprenticed to Boniface Mashave, with whom he worked for the next five years, following which he successfully went on his own.  Like most artists he strives for fame and riches and realizes that this can best be achieved through sale of his carvings to the overseas market.
Ranzvenga lives in Waterfalls with his wife and three children in a house shared with his brother Lazarus.  His favorite stones are Opal, Wonderstone, and Springstone.  He enjoys carving birds but also carves "creations" and contemporary Shona art.  He and his brother purchase their raw stone direct from the quarries in Kwe Kwe, Concession, and Chiweshe.
Please ask any and all questions. Please remit payment within 48 hours of purchase. Thanks
Insurance will be included with this piece.
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