Finch & Co - Catalogue 21

[38] An African Central Pende Miniature Anthropomorphic Carved Elephant Ivory Amuletic Figure Ikhoko With hands clasped to the chest, large feet an overshot jaw and the face of a Monkey / Man Late 19th – Early 20th Century s i z e: 5 cm high – 2 ins high p rov e na nc e: Ex Fred North collection Ex Private English collection The Pende carve miniature masks, and more rarely full figures, in elephant ivory and also in the soft thighbones of hippopotami. Sculptors prefer elephant ivory because of its smooth, cool texture and because when carved correctly, it does not crack with age.

Although western European collectors prize a golden patina the Pende would work to preserve the original white of the ivory for as long as possible. They would scrub the amulets from time to time with sand to keep the ivory from darkening from the smoke of house fires.