Lot 529: Nicholas Tandi, carved stone sculpture of Shona Woman

Shona Woman
a carved serpentine bust of a native Shona woman 54cm high

Nicholas was born in the Bindura district of Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia). At that time educational opportunities for Africans were limited and Nicholas was only able to complete his primary schooling. When he left school in 1964 he enrolled as a student at the Nyarutsetso Art Centre, when he was accepted as a student on the basis of his woodcarvings. The Nyarutseto Art Centre was run by the late Canon Patterson, an Anglican priest who did much to encourage artistic talent amongst young African students. Nicholas remained there for 3 years before embarking on his full time career as a sculptor. He carves both heads and animals, but his preference is for the human form.