Lot 93 D‡α

Cf. Schildkrout, E. and Keim, C.A., "African Reflections: Art from Northeastern Zaire", New York, 1990, p.131, fig.7.14, for an indentical hairpin collected by Herbert Lang in 1914 at Medje and today in the American Museum of Natural History, New York (acc.no.90.1/1867).

Lang wrote: “Only an experienced artist can hope to carve from the solid tip of an elephant tusk so slender a pin, topped with three large disks. No more wasteful design could be devised, for most of the ivory drops off in useless chips. All Mangbetu men of importance covet pins, most of which, however, terminate in a single concave disk, usually turned toward the front when worn, and supposed to represent the radiance of the sun“. (Lang, H., ‘Famous Ivory Treasures of a Negro King’ in American Museum Journal, Vol.XVIII, no.7, November 1918, pp.527-52).

Additional image : From Lang, H., ‘Famous Ivory Treasures of a Negro King’ in "American Museum Journal", Vol.XVIII, no.7, November 1918, p.540