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Hover to zoom Masaai Tribe, a tall group of Masaai men holding long staffs, carved from ebony wood in Kenya by Ndonye Mwanzilo

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Kenya, East Africa · Ndonye Mwanzilo

Masaai Tribe

Piece #MS007 · Year Made: 1988

$650

Shipping individually quoted

Origin

Kenya, East Africa

Period

Late 20th Century

Medium

Hand Carved Ebony Wood

Length

3"

Width

3"

Height

10"

Details & Materials

The figures in "Masaai Tribe" stretch upward in the elongated style that defines Masaai carving, rising together from one piece of pure ebony. Available in two sizes, small and large.

It is the work of Ndonye Mwanzilo, whose medium is ebony alone and whose subject is Masaai life. Among the many carvers of the Machakos district in Kenya, he is regarded as the finest, and each of his pieces takes a great deal of time to complete. For Mwanzilo, carving is how the tradition and culture of the Masaai are kept alive.

Condition: Excellent, not previously owned, undamaged
Sourcing: Fair Trade
Certificate of Authenticity: Available Upon Request
Provenance Report: Available Upon Request

Shipping

Buy now and leave the shipping to us. At checkout you pay for the piece plus a shipping deposit. We then plan the packing for your piece and email you the remaining shipping balance. This applies to both domestic and international orders. Every shipment is tracked, and most deliveries need a signature.

Domestic: 5-8 business days
International: 10-14 business days
White-glove delivery available on request

Care & Placement

Dust with a soft, dry cloth. Keep away from radiators, direct sunlight, dampness, and any sudden change of temperature. Do not place in extremely cold areas.

Place the piece on a level surface

Authenticity guaranteed, every piece verified

Packed and shipped by our team, insured and tracked

New York City gallery, est. 1983

Origin

Kenya

East Africa

"When I was first exposed to African art, I felt a deep connection to it. It is hard to explain. It resonates with me spiritually."

Michael, Founder

York's Shona Gallery was the first in New York City to bring African sculpture to American collectors. Every piece in our collection is acquired directly, ensuring authenticity and fair exchange with the artists and communities who create them.

Origin

Kenya, East Africa

Tribe / Artist

Ndonye Mwanzilo

Medium

Hand Carved Ebony Wood

About the Artist

Ndonye Mwanzilo

Wood Sculpture

Ndonye Mwanzilo was born in 1964 into a family of ten in the village of Wumunyu, located in the Machakos district of Kenya. Due to the financial difficulties of Mwanzilo’s family, his formal academic education ended after he completed the eighth grade. The financial reality in his district makes finding a profession very difficult for young people. Mwanzilo was fortunate to come from a family of trained sculptors; and soon after leaving school, he was incorporated into his father’s profession of wood carving.

Mwanzilo began to apprentice with his father at the early age of thirteen. He successfully mastered rudimentary wood carving techniques and soon after graduated to carving in the challenging medium of ebony wood. He absorbed the style and techniques of other great carvers from his district, known for its long wood carving tradition.

The district of Machakos is renowned for its rich mahogany and ebony wood carvings, due in part to the accessibility of trees that grow slowly and develop dry and dense inner cores, making them challenging mediums for wood carvers. These trees are also sought after for their rich color and resistance to cracking and splitting. Ebony wood is especially prized for its naturally black core, which is highlighted by a light-colored exterior. The contrast is dramatic and beautiful. Ebony wood is also known to be extremely dense, and is one of the few woods in the world that sinks in water. Its uses are wide, varied, and found in limited regions throughout the world.

Mwanzilo is a dedicated sculptor working exclusively in ebony to carve his refined “Masaai Tribe” figures. His characteristic detailed work demands great patience and a great deal of time to complete. Each piece is carved with a steady and most skillful hand. He is widely acknowledged to be the finest among the many ebony wood carvers from the Machakos district. The recurrent themes of his work reflect Masaai tribal life. Mwanzilo believes art is a powerful and essential medium in which to preserve the tradition and culture of Masaai life.

View all pieces by Ndonye Mwanzilo

The Tradition

Ebony Wood

Ebony wood is one of the most valuable, rare, and expensive types of wood in the world; prized for its dark core.

Ebony trees (Diospyros) are generally small and slow growing. The Greek name for ebony is Diospyros meaning 'fruit of the gods' and this wood is famous for its dark beauty and opulence. Because of its high density, texture, and waxiness, it is ideal for the production of fine artwork.

Ebony carving skills are typically passed from one generation to the next; and Kenyans are increasingly spending their time away from artisan crafts and working in industries such as tourism. Additionally, sourcing ebony wood is almost impossible because of its rarity. We are proud to be one of the very few galleries in the United States with pieces made of pure ebony touched by the masters of ebony, the Kenyan peoples.

Currently, worldwide demand for ebony wood is at an all-time high while supply is at an all-time low. A factor that influences rarity is darkness: the darker the color of the ebony, the more valuable it is. Today, artworks from light brown-brown ebony trees (harvested at 50 years old) are being produced. However, darker woods, also known as “pure ebony” (that look black at first glance) have become increasingly hard for collectors to acquire.

York’s Shona Gallery is one of the only African galleries with such dark ebony in the United States.

Grows: Slowly, over many decades
Color: Near black heart, pale outer wood
Made: By hand, from a single block
In the wild: Endangered

A cut ebony log, its black heart ringed by pale outer wood

A carver kneeling beside a tall carving of intertwined figures

Inside an ebony log

Heartwood

The near black center of the log, the part most prized for carving

Outer wood

The pale layer under the bark, often left on the base as a contrast to the dark figure

View all ebony wood

Masaai Tribe

Kenya

Ndonye Mwanzilo

Surfaces

Pedestal

Styled with and outdoors

Rooms

Ebony Wood

Masaai Tribe

Kenya

Ndonye Mwanzilo

Surfaces

Pedestal

Styled with and outdoors

Rooms

Ebony Wood

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