2024 Chimpanzee with hands over mouth

This chimpanzee carved from ebony wood has its unique wood grain on display in a beautiful way, while capturing the essence of this majestic animal. The artisan who made this piece was found by my mother selling his goods on the side of the road in DR Congo; a hidden gem that we had done our best to bring to the world. When we visited the shop, much of what you can see were African animals, probably encouraged as much by tourism as customary practice. But, there were also many examples of human carved, bowls, ceremonial masks.

Most local woods are used for carving ebony and wenge figurine. Carvings take all sizes and shapes—some small and some tall. They all have exceptional detail and, in my opinion, reasonably priced considering their fine craftsmanship. No electricity, no air conditioning, no noisy machinery. Actually, aside from that familiar sound of sandpaper on wood, there was no noise at all coming from inside. The tools they used included a few short-bladed chip carving knives, a variety of adzes in several sizes, rasps, files and sandpaper. They used their feet to steady workpieces on the dirt floor. There was no room for a workbench.

There were a lot of 2024 representation of Africa's “Big Five” animals. Even small carvings can take weeks to complete. Each carver is paid for his efforts, meaning that all profit go back strait to the artist.

The completed carvings receive quick and simple finishes. Dark wood polish to stain those pieces that need it or sometimes just transparent wood polish more for ebony wood followed by a mixture of beeswax. The pieces dry in the sun before receiving a final buffing. Then they're moved into the store for display or in a stand in front of the house. It's a simple enterprise that continues day in and day out for these Congolese carvers.

As you can imagine, we left their woodcarving shop with a mix of emotions and impressions we won't soon forget. The experience was both fascinating and inspiring, but at the same time humbling. That inspire us to start to work with them, until today!