Gibbings only made a small number of direct stone carvings, but was fortunate to have tuition from his friend Eric Gill. Gill was happy to give advice as Gibbings remembered: ‘… when we met in London he took me to a toolsmith and chose for me chisels, claws, points, a pitching tool, and a couple of hammers, and on his next visit to my home showed me how they should be used. It looked simple enough as I watched him.’
The present carving relates closely to ‘Tahitian Woman’ c.1929-30 now in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.