Pende
Pende female figure with her arms behind her back
Provenance:
Walking Man Gallery
Ex Kaba Collection
13" tall
The pose with the arms behind the back as seen in this figure is often times a traditional gesture of sorrow or mourning in many
African cultures according to the book "Gestures in African Art".

Click on any photo to see high resolution version
Other examples of Pende figures for
reference purposes
Sotheby's - New York
African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art
Auction Date : Nov 11, 2004

Lot 125 :  A PAIR OF PENDE MALE AND FEMALE FIGURES

Description
each rising from a fragmentary base, with bent legs and broad hips tapering to slender
columnar torsos framed by arms held to either side, each with a notched choker encircling
the neck beneath heads with diamond-shaped faces, open mouths showing filed teeth and
raised oval eyes with a single undulating brow, the female wearing a striated
close-cropped coiffure with a knob at the crown and the male with a four-pronged crown
for the coiffure, scarification in panels on both faces; varied, deep patina with traces of red
ochre on each.

Dimensions
heights 27in. male and 26 1/2 in. female 68.5 cm and 67.2 cm


Estimate:$ 8,000 - $ 12,000  
Price Realized:$ 10,200


Provenance
PROPERTY FROM A EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION

Carlo Monzino Collection

Notes
Cf. Robbins and Nooter (1989:figure1024) for a closely related female figure. Large scale
Pende figures were carved as depictions of important ancestors.
Sotheby's - Paris
Art Africain et Océanien, African and Oceanic Sale
Auction Date : Dec 5, 2003

Lot 152 :  GRANDE STATUE, PENDE, RÉPUBLIQUE DÉMOCRATIQUE DU
CONGO
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

de style naturaliste, dont la grande taille constitue la rareté. Elle représente une
femme portant un enfant dans les bras, une main posée sur le sein de sa mère,
illustrant le thème classique de la maternité. Elle arbore la coiffure en casque
caractéristique des Pende et des Tchokwe voisins, sommée d'une natte se
prolongeant jusqu'à la base du cou. Elle est peinte de pigments rouges. Les
marques d'érosion sur la tête attestent son ancienneté.

Condition
Forte érosion sur la coiffe et trou sur le sommet. Fentes sur le corps. Pieds
probablement non sculptés dès l'origine.

Dimensions
haut. 109 cm


Estimate:€ 6,000 - € 9,000  
Price Realized:€ 0