Lot 596: Herbert Ward (British, 1863-1919): A patinated bronze bust of a native African head entitled 'An Aruimi Type' with direct provenance to Herbert and Sarita Ward

Herbert Ward (British, 1863-1919): A patinated bronze bust of a native African head entitled 'An Aruimi Type'
with direct provenance to Herbert and Sarita Wardmodelled full face with plaited hair and pierced ears, the forehead with scarification marks, mounted on a rectangular black marble plinth, the rear with later ink written paper lable inscribed 'AN ARUIMI TYPE HEAD OF THE UPPER CONGO BY HERBERT WARD / His first piece of sculpture made in Lambeth in 1899 in plasticine and cast in bronze. Placed in the Royal Academy in 1901. Simultaneously a plaster cast, a gift to Aston Knight was awarded a mention honourable in the Paris Salon / All Herbert Ward's sculptures and collection of Congo relics except the above are housed in the New National Museum at Washington & Smithsonian Institute', the bronze sold together with a copy of 'A Valiant Gentleman, the biography of HERBERT WARD' by his wife Sarita Ward, the flyleaf of the book inscribed by the author in ink 'To Dick / In memory of one of the very best / With the authors affectionate regards Sarita Ward, October 1927', together with a further later handwritten ink inscription on the title page by another hand 'Mrs Ward, the writer of this book died in Dichfield House, Denham, Bucks / Dichfield House was built in the field opposite Hills House... / Dick Marten & Herbert Ward had always been friends. He gave Dick the Aruimi Head', the head illustrated opposite pg. 153, the bust 54ccm high

H