Ivory
Porta Negra, Black Africa, circa 1870
Inscribed and dated in black ‘Ponta Negra. Bruno Jehn. 1871’
Richly detailed spiral-shaped relief carved with scenes from the life of the inhabitants of the Congo Delta
Approx. 95 individual figural representations
Finial in the shape of a monkey
On a banner the initials ‘AHV’ of a Dutch trading company in the Congo Delta – the largest in the Luango region at that time
Length: 113 cm
Good condition
Provenance: Formerly in the possession of the Saxon businessman Bruno Jehn, who was a patron of the Ethnology Museum (now Grassi Museum) in Leipzig around 1875
Carved tusk with original dating, which is certainly of interest to cultural-historical research due to its exceptionally detailed carving – a museum piece of exceptional quality!
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In this Luango ivory tusk is a museum-quality collectible from the 19th century. It is carved all-around with a relief of scenes from African folk life. Around 95 figures are elaborately carved, some with finely chiseled robes. On a banner one can discern the initials ‘AHV’ of a Dutch trading house in the Congo Delta, founded in 1857 and since 1868 the name ‘Afrikaansche Handels Vereeniging (AHV)’ (African Trading Association) Delta – the largest company in the Luango region at that time. The tip is crowned by the figure of a monkey. 19th century carvings of this size and quality are nowadays rare.



The lower part of the tusk is inscribed and dated in black ‘Ponta Negra. Bruno Jehn. 1871’, Ponta Negra presumably referring to Pointe-Noire, nowadays the second largest city in the Republic of the Congo. The carving is in very good condition with a few fine age cracks and minor losses, especially in the lower region. The length is 113 cm. (tfa)

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