Queen Sheba

by Bernard Sakarombe

Springstone, 106 cm

This magnificent sculpture depicts the Queen of Sheba first mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. In the original story she brings a caravan of valuable gifts for the Isrealite King Solomon. The legend goes that she came from Ethiopia “to prove Solomon with hard questions…” And of course, Solomon fell madly in love… The piece evokes the majesty and legendary beauty of Sheba. The sculpture is carved in Springstone (a type of Zimbabwean serpentine stone) and weighs approximately 600lb. Springstone unpolished is light gray in color, sometimes found with brown colorations where veins of iron ore have infused the rock. However, after ‘super-heating’ of the stone and application of paraffin-based wax, it takes on a deep and radiant black hue. Sheba’s sumptuous flowing hair has been left unpolished to show the original character of the stone and provides dramatic contrast with her jet-black face and curving neck-line, which is silk-smooth and ever cool to the touch. The piece is intriguing and perfect from every angle…

There are several renditions of Queen Sheba by B.T. Sakarombe in the Spirits & Stone Collection, including ‘White Sheba’, carved in White Opal Stone. That sculpture too has the stately facial features, accentuated neck-line and immaculately elaborate hair-style that is a hallmark of this artist’s work.