Carving tools frequently used by Makonde hard wood (Ebony) carvers.

The Makonde carvers use most of the widely used common carving tools, such as the flat,u-shape, v-shape chisels and knive.

An axe for felling the ebony tree:


 and wood hand saw for preparing the work pieces:


In Tanzania to cut down ebony tree is government control, you can not freely cut the tree, one has to have a permit and license to do so. Now coming back to our topic, the carvers frequently use the following tools: Makonde Chopping axe (tezo) for preparing the initial shape of the carving:


Hand file (Kurubula) for finishing work, on the carving:


Below we can see hand file application on finishing process of Giraffe by Mzee Kibange of Majengo Makonde carvers, Moshi, Kilimanjaro:

Makonde Wood scraper (Mkwango) for detailed finishing such as on the eye:

Makonde Wood scraper (Pondola) for finishing work:


Makonde Carving knife ( chipula):



Makonde Mallet ( Kiwenguwengu) it is used as a hammer whilst chiseling out the work piece:






In the past a carving was doned entirely by one carver and they used to sign engrave their names on the bottom stand of the carving or sometimes at the bottom end of the carving. Now with commercialization we have specialization. Some carvers do the initial rough piece of the carving, followed by those who specialised on detailed work and lastly by finishing experts. And that is why now you can rarely find a carving signed as it formerly was.

CHAGGA SOFT WOOD CARVERS AT WORK

Hi! Today i want to show you some digital images of the Chagga soft wood carvers whilst working and i will give you a brief explanation as we go along.

Above Stewart Minja preparing the initial rough stage of the piece wood to be carved. And behind him there is a tray which he has already carved.

                                          Above Moses Mlay carving the inside of a wooden bowl.

               Above softwood carver of Mamba Msae working on the inside of a wooden tray.

                                        Elia Mlay chiselling the inside of musical drum frame.

                       Above Moses Mlay shaving the inside of a wooden tray using a wood shaver.

                        Above Moses Minja doing the finishing touches on a salad server.

Above Gillead Minja doing the finishing touches on a  wooden container for putting small things like jewelry.

Above Mzee Rodrick Minja working on the inside of a wooden container. He is amongst the oldest  few, softwood carvers who still carve.

                           Moses Mlay decorating a carved piece using scorching technique.

                            Above Moses Mlay  scorch decorate a carved musical drum.

                                     Moses Mlay scorch decorate a carved salad server.

Moses Mlay,  scorch decorating a wooden bowl whilst Elia Mlay maintains the fire at red hot, by using a blower made from goat skin. Fire is used for heating scorching tools.

                Elia Mlay doing the finishing touches on a carved wooden musical drum.

       A softwood carver of Mamba Msae doing sanding work on a carved wooden oval bowl.

                                  Elia Mlay doing the finishing touches on salad servers.

                                                   Some of the scorching tools and blower.

                     Blogger Paul Siairuka Njau visiting late Dawson Mboya at his workshop/ home, Mamba Masiha.

                 Blogger Paul Siairuka Njau chiseling on the inside of a wooden musical drum frame, at Mamba Msae softwood carvers workshop.

A British man trying to shave the inside of a wooden bowl at Mamba Msae softwood carvers workshop.

If you are interested to visit soft wood carvers, we can always arrange that for you, i hope you have learnt something from the digital images.

                                                SANAA ZETU

Dealers of : Home Accessories,souvenirs, curios and gift items. 

                                    And it is always there to cater for your needs.
                                                          KARIBU