Maintenance of sculptures sculpted in Zimbabwe

Keeping the pieces indoors, normally requires only a soft wet towel to clean the dust off.  The polish remains for a long time.  For small pieces should the polish fade, heating the piece either in an oven or with a hair dryer, and then applying a natuaral wax for instance a stone wax polisher will bring back the shine again.

This is a little different for larger pieces especially if they are kept outside. The first problem is how to heat up a statue of 1 meter.  This can be daunting.  Therefore, after experimenting, we found that by applying a gloss paint for stones onto the piece. the sculpture attains a great shine and stays shiny for a long time. 

We have of course had breakages.  What to do.,  The sculpture might be less valid but certainly sitll retains value especially for the perons collecting the piece.  Here we found that a 2 component glue works wonders.  After this paint it with gloss paint which will be easier than trying to repolish it.  Of course you can also try to repolish it if required.

The piece below from Sam Kuve (Samons Kuvhenguwa (Shona sculpturer) was damaged and broken in its form. It was glued and painted with gloss paint.  Of course it can be seen, but it does not affect the beauty of the piece and has for us not lost value. The piece whether repaired or not, still tells the same story based on Sam's Shona traditions.