White Dolomite Stone Elephant Sculpture

White Dolomite Stone Elephant Sculpture (7" x 5")

Pièce de resistance! In its natural form using white Dolomite stone the artisans have beautifully recreated the African Elephant (loxodonta africana) with meticulous attention to detail. This eye-catching stone carving is ideal as a decorative piece on a serving table or a main feature in a bay window, porthole or a dark wall recess. 

Not as common as Serpentine stone in Zimbabwe, Dolomite is a sedimentary rock, composed of calcium, magnesium and carbonate. Dolomite in its raw form appears strikingly white, grey and slightly pinkish. It falls between 3.5 to 4 on the Moh scale of hardness, making it a relatively softer stone used in sculpture. 

Zimbabwe is renowned for its rich tradition of stone and wood sculptures and in particular, is home to some of the world's finest stone carvers. Mining for raw stone and the harvesting of wood in Zimbabwe is not an automated process. Mining is primarily done by hand, in rural communities by artisanal miners throughout Zimbabwe in small open cast pits on steep mountain sides. Carvers prioritize sustainable practices, sourcing wood from dead trees to minimize environmental impact. Both forms of sculpture serve not only as artistic expressions, but also as cultural artefacts. These small-scale operations are a very valuable source of income to rural communities and are too small to cause any damage on the environment in which the raw materials is harvested. 

Sculptures and Carvings Cleaning Care: Dust using a microfiber cloth. Stone can be washed and dried in warm soapy water. To restore the on wooden carvings and protect the wood apply and buff a thin layer of furniture polish or beeswax.