Hi Jessica,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

James was born in the Bindura District of Zimbabwe in 1956. Under the tutelage of his older brother, renowned sculptor Nicholas Tandi, James quickly showed a talent for sculpting and began working in a variety of mediums but it was his mastery of the semi-precious stone verdite that propelled him to the international spotlight.

He works in the classical manner using hammer and chisel to capture the native African people and Indigenous wildlife of southern Africa. Tandi has participated in international one-man and group shows and his work is found in various museums.

His body of work is comparatively new, with few examples having sold auction, but based on the prices his works have sold for at galleries, this would be reasonably priced with a fair-market range of $700-1,000.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

James Tandi (Zimbabwean, b 1956)
Untitled (bust of a woman), n.d.
carved verdite, on a wooden base.
signed "James Tandi"
23 inches tall
CONDITION: This appears to be in good condition
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$ 700-1,000*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia