'Mother and Child' is an original opal serpentine sculpture signed by the Zimbbwean artist Samuel Likongwe. Based in Harare, Likongwe was trained in the Shona stone sculpting tradition and this sculpture is an exquisite example of his work. The mother and child are constructed of rectilinear forms, one stacked on top of the other revealing hips and torso and head. Even the mother's hair repeats this shape. At the same time, the faces of the figures are curvilinear. The use of texture of the bodies is ingenious, using a series of rough-hewn parallels lines to suggest the weave of fabric and to contrast with the smoothness of their skin. These formal qualities of the sculpture allow the themes of motherhood and love come to the forefront of the artwork.

opal stone (serpentine)
signed "Samuel Likongwe" along bottom of sculpture, proper left
mounted to a base
17.25 x 6 x 4.5 inches, sculpture
4 x 9.5 x 7.25 inches, base
21.25 x 9.5 x 7.25 inches, overall

Excellent overall condition with no signs of wear or damage