Description
Hand-carved from a dense dark stone, this bust captures a stylized African female figure with a tall, ridged coiffure or headwrap rendered in a lighter, unpolished finish that contrasts sharply against the deep charcoal-black polish of the face, neck, and shoulders. Large hoop earrings loop from each ear down toward the collarbone, and the sculpted features — wide-set eyes, a broad nose, and full lips — are rendered in the smooth, rounded style typical of Southern African stone carving traditions. Signature/marking present as shown; attribution not verified. Inquire for details.
The flat oval base carries an inscribed name reading “Joseph Phiri” along with faint additional lettering, consistent with the practice among African stone sculptors of signing finished work directly into the stone. Small dabs of pink pigment appear near the crown of the headdress, likely leftover inventory or gallery marks rather than part of the original design. The underside is left in a natural, unpolished state showing visible tool and rasp marks from the carving process.
The piece shows scattered white mineral or plaster residue across the face, shoulders, and headdress, along with light surface scuffing consistent with age and handling. The topmost point of the headdress has a small chip or break, and the base shows minor edge wear and a rust-toned stain along one side. Overall the carving remains structurally sound with no cracks through the main body.
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