One of One

Totem of Sovereignty

Thando Mkhize · 2024

Medium: Monumental stoneware, hand-modelled relief, layered slips, oxide wash, satin glaze
Dimensions: 68 × 42 × 38 cm
Edition: One of One

Certificate of authenticity

Accompanied by a signed certificate of authenticity from Lúmari, including work registry number and artist attestation.

Curatorial note

A monumental ceramic totem exploring power, hierarchy, and the unity of the natural world through layered animal symbolism.

Totem of Sovereignty is a commanding sculptural composition that explores hierarchy, power, and the interconnected order of the natural world.

At its core, the elephant emerges as the central axis — a symbol of memory, strength, and ancestral wisdom. Radiating outward, a congregation of animals forms a vertical narrative: lions representing authority, antelope embodying grace and vigilance, and predators above signifying dominance and survival.

The structure is deliberately symmetrical, evoking ceremonial totems and regal insignia. Each figure is meticulously integrated into the form, creating a continuous visual ascent — a hierarchy of life carved into a single monumental vessel.

Executed with extraordinary detail and precision, the piece balances organic storytelling with architectural discipline. The surface work — rich in pattern, texture, and tonal contrast — elevates the sculpture from object to statement.

This is not merely decorative art. It is symbolic sculpture — a narrative of power, unity, and natural order.

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Craftsmanship & process

Built in successive stages to support vertical weight and relief depth, each animal register was refined and integrated before bisque. Surface patterning and tonal contrast were developed through layered slips and controlled firing, preserving crisp detail across the monumental form.

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One of One

Totem of Sovereignty

Thando Mkhize · 2024

Medium: Monumental stoneware, hand-modelled relief, layered slips, oxide wash, satin glaze
Dimensions: 68 × 42 × 38 cm
Edition: One of One

Certificate of authenticity

Accompanied by a signed certificate of authenticity from Lúmari, including work registry number and artist attestation.

Curatorial note

A monumental ceramic totem exploring power, hierarchy, and the unity of the natural world through layered animal symbolism.

Totem of Sovereignty is a commanding sculptural composition that explores hierarchy, power, and the interconnected order of the natural world.

This is not merely decorative art. It is symbolic sculpture — a narrative of power, unity, and natural order.

Enquire to acquire

Craftsmanship & process

Related works

Unique Work

Cycle of Becoming

Thando Mkhize · 2022

A sculptural narrative of life’s continuity, capturing the rhythm of nature through layered animal and botanical forms.

One of One

Ritual of Grace

Thando Mkhize · 2025

A refined sculptural composition exploring elegance, balance, and quiet movement through intertwined crane forms.

View full collection · acquisitions@lumari.co.za