African Authentics / Rosemary Chimbganda

Tribal affiliation: Shona

How to purchase:
Website: www.africanauthentics.com/new-home-page

Email: sahwira@AfricanAuthentics.com

Instagram: African_Authentics

Phone or whatsapp: (857) 221-0134

Bio:

Rosemary has been in the business for more than 25 years travelling back and forth to Zimbabwe. She has a long-term relationship with the Shona artist where she provides support to the artist/source in the form of financial assistance, training, technical assistance, or other services. She has provided safety gear like masks and helped the artist source tools like sandpaper and chisels. In 2014 she sponsored some of the artists to come to the USA for cultural exchange programs.

Of the 250 stone types, Serpentine stone is the most commonly used and occurs in a variety of colors including green, red, black and yellow. Other types of stone in use vary in color and hardness and include verdite, rapoko, soapstone, and spring stone. Hand carved using chisels and hammers, sand paper is used to polish the pieces and finally polished with beeswax.Traditional Zimbabwe stone sculptures/Shona Art is labor intensive and requires patience and skills. It can take up to a month to produce a medium size sculpture. What may look like irregularities are indeed a true mark of authenticity.