These evocative woodcarvings form part of a recognizable corpus of sculptures attributed to a group of Zulu carvers active in the vicinity of the former British colony of Natal, of whom the man Unobadula is the only named carver. These works include lidded vessels, headrests and chairs.
“Both regionally and internationally renowned for their skills in wood carving, these sculptors produced artwork for a local elite including the Zulu king Mpande kaSenzangakhona (r.1840–1872).
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Carved wooden objects were also made specifically for sale to Europeans, especially the British, who were an increasing presence at Port Natal from the 1820s onwards. Nguni sculpture was subsequently exhibited in Europe at world fairs such as the International Exhibition, held in London in 1862, which intended to showcase the fine arts of all nations, following the example of the Great Exhibition of 1851”
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
