The Stones
Type of Stones
About The Stones
Shona Sculpture
Zimbabwe, when translated from the Karanga dialect of Shona, means "house of stones". Thanks to the country’s astonishing diversity of hard rocks that are used for carving, the majority of the stones used in Zimbabwean sculpture are locally sourced.
Zimbabwe is currently the only African country with significant deposits of stone suitable for carving. This provides Zimbabwean sculptors with unique stones that have extremely fine grains and uniform structure, vary in texture, and colours ranging from shades of avocado, green, pomegranate, granadilla, lemon, peach, brown, plum, grape, and mulberry.
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Zimbabwe is known for its 2.5-billion-year-old Great Dyke, which is a 510-kilometer series of ridges and hills running through Zimbabwe and is currently the longest linear mass of mafic and ultramafic rocks in the world. It was formed when molten rock forced its way into existing rock formations, which later eroded. This ancient dyke is laced with a range of minerals. It offers an astonishing range of colours and combinations of stone.
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Mining for raw stone in Zimbabwe is a small-scale operation. The mines are usually small open-cast pits and are dug by hand on hillsides. The slopes are steep and accessed only by footpaths.
Adverse environmental impacts are not expected from mining the stones as they are too small to cause any harm to the environment.
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The Shona Stone Movement is an artistic and cultural tradition that originated in Zimbabwe in the early 20th century. It is characterized by the use of hand-carved stone sculptures, often depicting abstract or representational forms inspired by nature and African heritage. The movement was influenced by the work of prominent Zimbabwean sculptors such as Herbert Chitepo and Henry Munyaradzi, and has gained international recognition for its unique style and skill.
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The largest indigenous group in Zimbabwe is the Shona, who have a rich tradition of stone sculpting, thus the name Shona Stone Movement. Inspired by dreams where ancestral spirits communicate with them, sculptors aim to "release the spirit in the stone." The sculptures can be guided by the spirits they depict, as well as the spirits present in all natural elements like stone, water, and trees. Family, mother and child, animals, and abstract or whimsical forms are common themes in Shona stone sculptures. With thousands of sculptors still working today, the art of Shona stone sculpture continues to flourish and evolve, showcasing the imagination and creativity of contemporary artists.
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Shona stone sculptures are highly valued for their beauty, craftsmanship, and cultural significance, and are collected by art enthusiasts and museums around the world.
Zimbabwe's Stone Mines
The Shona Stone Movement
Serpentine
This stone is said to have been named by the German Catholic Scholar and Scientist Georgius Agricola (referred to as the Father of Mineralogy) in 1564 from the Latin "Serpens" due to its mottled and scaley appearance like a serpent or snake.
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According to metaphysical beliefs, serpentine is believed to help establish control over one's life by providing clearer thoughts to facilitate meditation better. It is believed to clear clouded areas of the chakras and stimulate the crown chakra, thus promoting spiritual understanding and psychic abilities.
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Serpentine has been used as an architectural stone for thousands of years. Found in many deposits throughout Zimbabwe, its colours vary from black to brown to green, orange, and variegated. Because of its beauty and collectability, it is one of the most sought-after because of its fine finish, durability, and hardness. Most stones used in Zimbabwean sculpture belong to the geological family of Serpentine.
Colbat Stone
Cobalt stone is a beautiful stone that belongs to the geological family of Serpentine and can be found in various colours such as purple and green. The stone has a hardness between 5 and 6 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Although there is no actual cobalt in the stone, cobalt is the local name given to this stone by Zimbabwean sculptures.
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A beautiful stone that is often purple with a variation of yellow and white markings and stripes throughout. It can often have brown/orange markings. Cobalt is a brittle, relatively rare hard metal, closely resembling iron and nickel in appearance. It has a hardness of between 5 and 6 on Mohs scale.
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Cobalt is an exotic stone that lends its beauty to the simplest and most extraordinary forms. It is a serpentine variety and can be found in many colours although it is often purple with yellow and white striations throughout. Cobalt is the local name used by Zimbabwean sculptors. There is no actual cobalt in the stone, which is mined mainly in Guruve. Cobalt has a hardness between 5 and 6 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.
Springstone
The springstone belongs to the geological family of Serpentine, and it is the most commonly used stone by Zimbabwean sculptors. It is known for its durability, darkness, hardness, and fine finish. In addition, the springstone has high iron content and, due to its hardness, offers good resistance to the sculptor. The springstone is mined in Gurve, located in the Northern part of Zimbabwe.
The springstone tends to have a rich outer layer of reddish-brown oxidized rock and polishes to a high shine because of its density.
Leopard Rock
The Leopard Rock also belongs to the geological family of Serpentine. The stone name is derived from its beautiful colour with its yellow and black pockmarks similar to that of a leopard. The rock has a hardness between 6.0 and 7.0 on the Mohs Hardness scale, and this makes it a difficult stone to carve.
The rocks are mined in the Eastern part of Zimbabwe called Nyanga mines.
Opal Stone (Green and White)
The Opal Stone also belongs to the geological family of Serpentine. The Opal stone has a fine translucent look with a less hard and smooth surface texture, thus making it a favorite of Zimbabwean sculptors. It is also known to have fewer colour variations than other Serpentines as it is predominantly green in colour with some stones being brown, fire-reds, and black.
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The Opal stone is often referred to as Chiweshe Serpentine by local sculptors, and it is mined at Chiweshe, which is two hours north of Harare. The stone has a hardness between 5.0 and 5.5 on the Mohs Hardness scale.
Dolomite
Dolomite stands apart from the Serpentine family in the geological realm. This exquisite stone exudes the elegance of fine marble, boasting a wide range of colors. From delicate pinks to colorless, white, grey, black, or brown tones, Dolomite's hues are influenced by the presence of iron and manganese within its crystals.
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The translucent to transparent nature of Dolomite crystals adds to its allure, creating a captivating visual experience. In terms of hardness, Dolomite falls between 3.5 and 4.0 on the Mohs Hardness scale, ensuring its durability while retaining its inherent beauty. Embrace the timeless charm and versatility of Dolomite, a stone that effortlessly merges aesthetics and durability.
Vedatide
Verdite also does not belong to the geological family of Serpentine. Verdite is one of the oldest exposed rocks on the surface of the earth and has always been used in Fine Arts over the years. This extremely beautiful hard stone has always been used historically by tribesmen in Southern Africa.
The colour tends to be a darker shade of green with spotless shine from the small crystals that create the appearance of golden brown to rich emeralds greens and blues. The stone is unique in containing inclusions of ruby corundum which happens to be the second hardest mineral on earth next to diamond.
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Verdite is an exclusive emerald and is also referred to as “green gold" because it is a semi-precious gemstone that is unluckily becoming unusual and, therefore, gradually more priceless. Due to the stone becoming scarce, the value of the work of experienced carvers of this rare stone will continue to grow and be priceless.
