{"product_id":"aa04051","title":"Shona Tribe Rapoko Elephant ~34.6\" Tall (New 2026)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e H:34.6\" W:27.6\" L:7.1\" Weight: 142.0 lbs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003eShona Tribe Rapoko Elephant\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003e – This beautiful stone sculpture carved from rapoko stone will add a graceful focal point to your home and garden with its natural color, tactile surface, and flowing lines. These African stone sculptures are known as Shona sculptures because they are hand carved by Zimbabwean Shona sculptors. Zimbabwe is well-known for its stone sculpture all around the world..\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003eAbout the Tribe\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003eThe Shona ethnic group is indigenous to Southern Africa, primarily Zimbabwe, but there are significant Shona populations in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Mozambique. In Zimbabwe, the Shona people make up most of the population. Stone sculpture and mbira music have made them famous around the world (mbira: an instrument made of a hollow gourd with metal reeds that the player plucks). This tribe is believed to be responsible for the construction of several ancient stone wall sites in Zimbabwe. Great Zimbabwe, an 800-hectare city that flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries AD, was built on the physical foundation of these walls. Great Zimbabwe, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site was a center for trade, and archaeologists have discovered artifacts on site from as far away as China.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003eAbout the Stone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003eRapoko, also known as African Millet Stone, is a naturally occurring, soft stone traditionally used across Southern Africa for both practical and artistic purposes. Found mainly in Zimbabwe and neighboring regions, this fine-grained material has a light, earthy hue, often ranging from pale beige to soft brown. Historically significant and widely utilized by local artisans, Rapoko is prized for its softness and ease of carving, making it ideal for creating intricate sculptures, ceremonial objects, and everyday tools. Despite its softness compared to harder stones like serpentine or granite, Rapoko’s texture allows for precise detailing. Its natural matte finish and warm, organic tones give each piece a grounded, timeless aesthetic, connecting modern craftsmanship with ancient tradition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"African Angel Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57359471706272,"sku":"AA04051","price":1395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0541\/0829\/1232\/files\/AA04051.jpg?v=1779865331","url":"https:\/\/www.africanangelart.com\/products\/aa04051","provider":"African Angel Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}