Lot 134
134
A FINE AND RARE PENDE BONE WHISTLE, carved as the upper part of a male figure with long arms carved free of the body, the right held across the chest, the left at the side with hand on waist, decorated with a trail of fine zigzags, the small face with banded topknot and pierced at the neck for suspension, banded aperture below, creamy patina with reddish patina on reverse

Details
A FINE AND RARE PENDE BONE WHISTLE, carved as the upper part of a male figure with long arms carved free of the body, the right held across the chest, the left at the side with hand on waist, decorated with a trail of fine zigzags, the small face with banded topknot and pierced at the neck for suspension, banded aperture below, creamy patina with reddish patina on reverse
12.2cm. long

Lot Essay

Sousberghe (1958, p.20), writing about the Walschot collection, mentions a whistle of this form, which might be the present example: ...parmi les sifflets sculptés, une des curiosités de la sculpture Pende, nous avons des sifflets où, sous la tête, les bras encadrent en losange le corps du sifflet; le seul sifflet de ce genre dont nous connaissons l'origine précise provient de cette zone. The delicacy of execution of this exquisite carving is far more fine than any illustrated by Sousberghe, vide figs. 132-148

More from Tribal Art

View All
View All