A Rare Pinda Ivory Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo

carved from African elephant ivory (loxodonta africana), the human torso rising from a circular base, the openwork arms resting on a belt or wrap, the oval head with open mouth, incised eyes and wearing a typical coiffure, composed of two disc-like elements on the sides, with a hole inserted in to the top; fine gold-brown patina with residue. 

Reportedly from a Portuguese Private Collection, Lisbon
André Fourquet, Paris, acquired from the above, 1960s
Marcel de Toledo, Brussels, acquired from the above, 1995

Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, The Tribal Arts of Africa, New York, 1998, p. 189, fig. 10
Dick Beaulieux, Belgium Collects African Art, Brussels, 2000, p. 197

excellent condition overall for an object of this rare type and age; minor chip on base and chips on top of coiffure, showing a level of disintegration only seen on extremely old ivory, nicks and scratches; fine gold brown patina with residue.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The Pinda are a small people living in the coastal region of Angola, with the Cambalo river to the north, the Cuvo river to the west and Porto Amboim to the south (Bastin 1994: 38). Testimonies of their figurative sculpture are extremely rare and seem to exist only in the form of small female torsos carved from African elephant ivory (loxodonta africana). Besides the Bohlen Pinda, only four other figures are known (all published in Bastin 1994: 91, figs. 59-62): three in the Museu Nacional de Etnologia, Lisbon (accession nos. 'AX-669', 'AX-670' and 'AX-671'), and a fourth in the Casa-Museu Teixera Lopes, Vila Nova de Gaia (accession no. '6'), previously in the collection of the artist Diogo de Macedo and published in 1934 (Macedo and Montalvor 1934: fig. 39). A fifth figure published in 1915 in Einstein's Negerplastik (Einstein 1915: pl. 82), present location unknown, is similar in its general composition, including the coiffure with two discs on the sides. However, too little is known about the actual object to determine if indeed it should be added to the corpus.

The deep patina on the Bohlen Pinda and the three figures from the Lisbon museum as well as the early publication dates of the figure in the Casa-Museu Teixera Lopes and possibly of the Einstein figure suggest that the corpus of Pinda ivories is of great age. Noteworthy in this context is the similarity of the facial features and parts of the coiffure of the tallest of the three figures in the Lisbon museum (accession nos. 'AX-669', Bastin 1994: 91, fig. 59) and one female wood torso in the Museo Nazionale Preistorico ed Etnografico 'Luigi Pigorini', Rome, which was brought to Italy from Angola or the Congo at the end of the 17th century (published in Bastin 1994: 61, fig. 2).

Acknowledgments: Marcel de Toledo for sharing his research