The Ivory Carrier - Arsène Matton (1873 - 1953)

Le Porteur d'Ivoire (The Ivory Carrier) is a sculpture chryséléphantine in bronze and ivory representing a Congolese African carrying ivory. Although this model has been seen in several smaller sizes we can say that this model is nearly unique.

It is a bronze sculpture with brown patina made by sand cast.
Arsène Matton (1873 Belgium - 1953 Brussels), born in Harelbeke in Belgium is the first colonial artist.

After studying at several Academies (Courtrai, Gand, Malines & Bruxelles) he started to exhibit in the greatest salons after which he was commissioned by the state to realise several sculptures for important Monuments.

From 1911 until 1937 he will be Professor at the "Académie des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles" (The Belgium Academy of Fine Arts) and will become the first national colonial artist commissioned by the Colonial Office and the King Leopold II to study the ethnic characteristics of the different tribes in Congo.

Today, several sculptures from the artist are exhibited in the most important museums of Belgium. Most sculptures by Matton are very small. Large pieces such as "The Ivory Carrier" are very rare and almost unique.

The work is accompanied by a CITES certificate.


Literature :
- BRUNEEL-HYE DE CROM, M. LUWEL, M. 1967. Tervueren 1897.
Tervueren: Musée Royal de L'Afrique Centrale, p.95.
- ENGELEN, C. MARX, M. La Sculpture en Belgique à partir de 1830. Louvain : Engelen – Marx, 2006. Tome V p. 2502 - 2505.