Now over 30 years in the same location, the Hemingway African
Gallery is the most established and largest wholesale importer
of fine African art. Its unparalleled collection features: Shona
sculpture; ancient, colonial, and contemporary tribal sculpture;
richly woven textiles; intricately carved ceremonial masks;
zebra skins; antique silver and bronze jewelry; Maasai beadwork;
Zulu baskets; and shields and other weaponry. The Hemingway
African Gallery, located in the Manhattan Arts and Antique Center
at 1050 Second Avenue in Manhattan, is open to the public seven
days a week on a walk-in basis, or by appointment, on Monday
through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Sunday
from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Shona sculpture:
Steeped in the legends and traditions of an ancient African
civilization, contemporary Shona sculpture is a profound expression
of the human condition that transcends geography and time, inspired
by present day events, spiritual beliefs and folklore. The Shona
artists imaginatively depict their way of life and daily living
experiences in stone sculptures that are intricately carved
with the simplest of tools, and then polished vigorously to
bring out the brilliant natural colors of the local stone. Most
Shona sculptors have no formal training, rather, they are self-taught,
handing down their knowledge from generation to generation.