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Hover to zoom Crocodile, a small crocodile riding on the back of a larger one, carved from ebony wood in Kenya

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Kenya, East Africa

Crocodile

Name: Crocodile
Brand: York's Shona Gallery
SKU: SF007
Price: 2750.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Piece #SF007 · Year Made: 1987

$2,750

Shipping individually quoted

Origin

Kenya, East Africa

Period

Late 20th Century

Medium

Hand Carved Ebony Wood

Length

32"

Width

18"

Height

6"

Details & Materials

York's Shona Gallery is proud to present "Crocodile," carved from one piece of luxurious ebony. The crocodile is regarded as a sacred animal in parts of Africa, a spiritual being that offers protection and wards off evil. In Gambia it is stamped on the country's currency, and the sacred crocodile pool of Kachikaly serves as a prayer ground for visitors.

"Crocodile" was handmade in Kenya in 1987 and is one of the few ebony pieces in our collection. The tradition of carving ebony in Kenya grows rarer every year, which makes a piece like this one increasingly difficult to find.

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

Tradition

Wood Sculpture

Medium

Hand Carved Ebony Wood

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

Animals in African Art

The Significance of Animals

In African art an animal is rarely just an animal. It can stand for a king, a clan, an ancestor or a lesson, and its meaning changes from one people to the next.

Many families trace their roots to an animal. Among the Shona of Zimbabwe, every clan has its own animal, such as the lion or the elephant, and people do not eat the animal of their clan out of reverence.

Animals also carry power. In the Benin Kingdom, the king is known as the leopard of the house, and leopards were once kept at the royal palace. In Cameroon, the elephant stands for the power of chiefs. In Mali, carved antelopes celebrate farming and the people who work the land.

Animals are also used to teach lessons. In Ghana, children grow up with stories of Anansi, a clever spider whose adventures teach right from wrong.

Hundreds of years ago, carvers in Zimbabwe made tall birds out of stone. Today one of those birds is the symbol of the country and appears on its flag. Shona sculptors often carve animals, and figures that are part person and part animal.

Stands for: Power, family, and a good harvest
Teaches: Right from wrong
Seen in: Masks, brass figures, stone and wood sculpture

Ancient rock engravings of giraffes and a human figure

Two people walking toward a herd of elephants

A black panther resting on a tree branch

Animal symbols

Nigeria

Leopard

A symbol of the king

Cameroon

Elephant

A symbol of power

Mali

Antelope

A symbol of farming and a good harvest

Zimbabwe

Lion

A family symbol for many Shona clans

Crocodile

Kenya

Surfaces

Pedestal

Styled with and outdoors

Rooms

Ebony Wood

The Significance of Animals

Crocodile

Kenya

Surfaces

Pedestal

Styled with and outdoors

Rooms

Ebony Wood

The Significance of Animals

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