African- Zambian Makishi Art
Don't ask me how- but as a result of negotiating for Kiaat Tree
wood shelves, turntable and
equipment bases (more about them below) we got some Zambian
tribal masks, 'Makishi'.
Don't confuse these with the tiki like masks or the common West African (Nigerian, Ghanaian, Ivory Coast etc.) products that you may have seen in the past. These are hand crafted by artists working traditional materials in traditional ways. Antique Zambian masks go for $1200 and up at LA and New York specialty art gallerys.
Just remember that each Tribal Makishi is individually carved to represent one of 24 common emotions and human conditions. Each is hand carved (and signed)- no two are exactly alike- so the piece that you get may more or less resemble the photo- but not exactly. (If you are dissatisfied, we can usually exchange.)
The Tribal Makishi are perhaps the original emoticons, used during tribal ceremonies (sings) by various members of the tribe to represent individuals, emotions, gods, and kings. Usually about 24 inches tall, these represent common folk.
If one of the 24 Tribal Makishi emoticons that you want is out of stock, we can see if one is available for air shipment or custom order a piece for you. The less common and more rare 'Ritual' Makishi are used in more important ceremonies and to represent more important individuals are available for air shipment. Depending on where the Collective is in the current tree, delivery of a custom order can take 90-120 days.
There are more than 100 Makishi, or mask characters, figuring in the remarkable masquerade traditions of a constellation of ethnic groups living in the 'Three Corners' region of Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Makishi embody ancestral spirits, and they may assume human, animal, hybrid, or abstract appearances.
The Makishi are Fair Trade made by a small Lozi Artists Collective from renewable non-endangered hardwoods. For each tree cut, the Collective is planting 2 trees. This is actually a centuries-old forest management program that was only discontinued in the 19th century during the British colonial period. Before the tree is cut, the local village elders say/sing a prayer. The tree is shown the saplings to be planted and protected, before the first cut. This ceremony protects the environment, renews the village's farmland (nitrogen fixing) and at the same time offers employment to the rural villagers.
Good sound
is a nanotheater goal- a customer supplied Mukwa wood for a turntable base, our shop made the base and we were so impressed with the results that we got in contact with the collective to make some bases for us.
The Kiaat Tree is fire resistant, fixes nitrogen (improving local soils), is resistant to native termites and is excellent for furniture making. It provides a home for the charaxes butterfly in larval state, and squirrels, baboons and monkeys feed on the seed pods, which have a diameter of about 12cm. The elephant has been known to destroy the Kiaat by pushing it over for it's seed pods.
As with maple, Kiaat wood also produces a rich, resonant sound and has been traditionally made into many different musical instruments. We look forward to our first shipment of turntable and equipment bases. Visit our contact page and let us know if you are interested.
All art objects are subject to prior sale.
Don't confuse these with the tiki like masks or the common West African (Nigerian, Ghanaian, Ivory Coast etc.) products that you may have seen in the past. These are hand crafted by artists working traditional materials in traditional ways. Antique Zambian masks go for $1200 and up at LA and New York specialty art gallerys.
Just remember that each Tribal Makishi is individually carved to represent one of 24 common emotions and human conditions. Each is hand carved (and signed)- no two are exactly alike- so the piece that you get may more or less resemble the photo- but not exactly. (If you are dissatisfied, we can usually exchange.)
The Tribal Makishi are perhaps the original emoticons, used during tribal ceremonies (sings) by various members of the tribe to represent individuals, emotions, gods, and kings. Usually about 24 inches tall, these represent common folk.
If one of the 24 Tribal Makishi emoticons that you want is out of stock, we can see if one is available for air shipment or custom order a piece for you. The less common and more rare 'Ritual' Makishi are used in more important ceremonies and to represent more important individuals are available for air shipment. Depending on where the Collective is in the current tree, delivery of a custom order can take 90-120 days.
There are more than 100 Makishi, or mask characters, figuring in the remarkable masquerade traditions of a constellation of ethnic groups living in the 'Three Corners' region of Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Makishi embody ancestral spirits, and they may assume human, animal, hybrid, or abstract appearances.
The Makishi are Fair Trade made by a small Lozi Artists Collective from renewable non-endangered hardwoods. For each tree cut, the Collective is planting 2 trees. This is actually a centuries-old forest management program that was only discontinued in the 19th century during the British colonial period. Before the tree is cut, the local village elders say/sing a prayer. The tree is shown the saplings to be planted and protected, before the first cut. This ceremony protects the environment, renews the village's farmland (nitrogen fixing) and at the same time offers employment to the rural villagers.
Good sound
is a nanotheater goal- a customer supplied Mukwa wood for a turntable base, our shop made the base and we were so impressed with the results that we got in contact with the collective to make some bases for us.
The Kiaat Tree is fire resistant, fixes nitrogen (improving local soils), is resistant to native termites and is excellent for furniture making. It provides a home for the charaxes butterfly in larval state, and squirrels, baboons and monkeys feed on the seed pods, which have a diameter of about 12cm. The elephant has been known to destroy the Kiaat by pushing it over for it's seed pods.
As with maple, Kiaat wood also produces a rich, resonant sound and has been traditionally made into many different musical instruments. We look forward to our first shipment of turntable and equipment bases. Visit our contact page and let us know if you are interested.
All art objects are subject to prior sale.
