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Tiny Tin Tortoise
Tiny Tin Tortoise Top View
Tiny Tin Tortoise Side View

Tiny Tin Tortoise

Sale price$10.00
SKU: PTI-TOR

Tortoise is a symbol of wisdom, creation, steadfastness and tranquility. It is also a powerful totem for protection, as withdrawing into its shell is an amazing self-defense mechanism. Due to its long lifespan, it represents longevity and stability. In African fairy tales, the tortoise is the most clever animal. Old tin cans and other scraps of metal from businesses in the industrial area of Harare are turned into these delightful sculptures by these artists using snips, pliers, and hammers.


Height: 1"
Length: 2.5"
Width: 2"
Artist:  sculpted by Joseph Thomas, painted by Yeukai Tanyara
Made In: Zimbabwe


Material

Recycled old tin cans

Dimension

See product description

Product Care Instructions

Wipe clean with a dry cloth

Origin

Zimbabwe

Time to make

4 hours
Tiny Tin Tortoise
Tiny Tin Tortoise Sale price$10.00

meet the maker

Metal Sculptors of Zimbabwe

📍Harare, Zimbabwe

" A remarkable story of creativity, resilience, and generational craftsmanship"

Founded in 1986 by the five Mukankha brothers, the Improved Arts Metal Sculptors Project is a remarkable story of creativity, resilience, and generational craftsmanship. Through their artistic talent, the brothers built a sustainable livelihood that allowed them to provide opportunities for their families that they themselves did not have growing up.

Using simple hand tools—snips, pliers, and hammers—they transform sheets of tin into playful sculptural creatures full of character and charm. Each piece is then individually hand-painted in vibrant patterns by artists from Zimbabwe’s Weya community, making every sculpture a truly one-of-a-kind work of art. While some of the founding brothers have since passed, the legacy continues through Norman and Moses, who now mentor the next generation of younger family members, ensuring this distinctive craft continues to thrive.