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Mudzimu Bull is one of most significant artworks from Zimbabwe’s Shona sculpture movement to pass through Guruve’s gallery. We are delighted to exhibit this museum-quality work from the early period of Shona sculpture history.
The mudzimu (spirit) bull represents the senior spirit of an extended family. Most families in a village are related (on the male side), so the bull represents the continuity of the family lineage. The bull is carefully selected by the elders: it should have good conformation; it should lead and protect the other cattle, but also be docile with people. The mudzimu bull is sacred to the village and wanders freely.
Mudzimu Bull has ‘gold standard’ provenance – it is pictured in Ben Joosten’s book ‘Sculptors From Zimbabwe’, the seminal text on the ‘first generation’ artists in the Shona sculpture movement. Even better, though, the book also has a full-page photograph from 1973 of Henry Munyaradzi at his display at Tengenenge with this sculpture behind him. Wonderful!
Guruve is advertising this piece for sale on behalf of a private collector who purchased it in 2014 from the Chapungu Sculpture Park in Harare, Zimbabwe. A Chapungu certificate accompanies the piece, in addition to the usual Guruve literature – and we’ll include a copy of Joosten’s book as well.
UK clients can arrange a viewing by appointment, or contact us to purchase.
We offer worldwide shipping via tracked courier in a fully lined made-to-measure crate.
Overseas clients please email us for a shipping quote;
remember to include your delivery address (including post/zip code) and contact phone number.
