Charles Bies
Artist: Charles Bies
Date: 1990-2010
Medium: Ebony wood
Dimensions: 11.75”
Artist’s Country of Birth: Tanzania
Collecting Area: Practicing artist
Accession Number: 1640
Visual Description:
Notes from Ray: African Statue Ebony Tree of Life Ujamaa Makonde Tanzania Handmade Carving The Makonde belong to the Bantu people who originally lived south of Lake Nyassa and later migrated to their present location on the Mueda plateau in northern Mozambique. A great many also migrated across the Ruvuma River during colonial times to work on sisal farms in Tanzania, where they remain. Makonde carvers are prolific producers of masks, statues, and decorative objects. This family tree was carved from a single piece of solid ebony wood. The color of the figures is not stained – the wood when polished yields a shiny black finish. The figure intricately illustrates many people climbing above each other.
Est Current Value: $800
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