This striking sculpture is by Nicholas Mukomberanwa, one of the most sought-after names in the Shona sculpture movement. Nicholas was a tremendously gifted sculptor; his artworks are accomplished and sophisticated. Typically, they are stylised human figures or faces, with lines reminiscent (to the Western viewer) of Picasso or Art Deco aesthetics.
Nicholas was not a prolific artist, and as a result his pieces do not come onto the open market very often.
This piece is a fantastic example of Nicholas’ work at the peak of his most popular period. As such, it represents a great opportunity for a dedicated collector of important Shona sculptures to add a substantial Nicholas to their collection.
Originally, this piece was exhibited at Gimpel Fils Gallery in Mayfair, central London. It was bought by a private collector and remained in his collection until his death a few years ago, following which it was acquired by the current owner. The piece comes with a copy of the original gallery invoice from 1993.
