African and Oceanic Art at Sotheby's - June 12, 2012

Sotheby's will put an exquisite group of African and Oceanic art and artifacts before the bidders in Paris on June 12. Highlights of the sale will include a stunning black Bete mask, a Fang reliquary figure, a cephalomorphic Igala head crest, a Yoruba Oshe Shango maternity figure, and a range of other sculptural masterworks from West and Central Africa, New Ireland, and elsewhere.

View the online catalogue.

Mask  -  Bete, Côte d'Ivoire

Reliquary figure  -  Fang, Gabon

Head crest  -  Igala, Nigeria

Oshe Shango maternity figure  -  Yoruba, Nigeria

Ivory cup with figurines  -  Sapi-Portuguese, Sierra Leone

Mask  -  Gere, Côte d'Ivoire

Power figure  -  Kongo, D.R. Congo

Female figure  -  Tiv, Nigeria

Malanggan mask  -  New Ireland

Canoe prow ornament  -  Solomon Islands

Information and images courtesy of Sotheby's

African and Oceanic Art at Christie's - June 11, 2012

Christie's will present a sale of fine African and Oceanic art and artifacts on June 11 in Paris. A number of prestigious private collections are offered in this sale. One of these is fresh to the market, a discovery that includes a group of rare works of art from Gabon, including a Fang reliquary figure purchased over fifty years ago. Three important sculptures from the collection of Russel B Aitken (notably the famous Yoruba equestrian figure exhibited in MOMA's 1935 exhibition African Negro Art), a selection of pieces from the Swiss collector Edith Hafter, and a Kongo power figure are among the other highlights. Another extraordinary discovery is a selection of unknown objects from the Marquesas Islands amassed by  Dr. Alphonse Long between 1882 and 1891.

View the online catalogue.

Reliquary figure  -  Mvai Fang, Gabon

Reliquary figure  -  Kota-Shamaye, Gabon

Mask  -  Dogon, Mali

Equestrian figure  -  Yoruba, Nigeria

Figural suspension hook  -  Sepik River, Papua New Guinea

Male figure  -  Abelam, Papua New Guinea

Mask  -  Fang, Gabon

Female figure  -  Mende, Sierra Leone

Information and images courtesy of Christie's

Tribal Art Auction - Webb's, March 28

On Wednesday, March 28, Webb's of New Zealand will present a sale of several significant international collections of Maori taonga and artifacts from a range of Oceanic cultures. An historically important poutokomanawa (carved centre post) and two significant feather cloaks are included alongside a lifetime collection of Maori and Oceanic fish hooks, as well as early examples from the Webster collection, Maori weaponry, adornment and a quality selection of Melanesian, Polynesian and African tribal artworks.

View the offical website.

Poutokomanawa figure attributed to Anaha Te Rahui (1822–1913)  -  Maori, New Zealand

Feathered prestige cloak, kahu huruhuru  -  Maori, New Zealand  -  Late nineteenth century

Figural pendant, hei tiki  -  Maori, New Zealand  -  Eighteenth century

Ancestral figure, tekoteko  -  Maori, New Zealand

Trade axe with manaia finial, patiti  -  Maori, New Zealand  -  Mid-nineteenth century

Club with manaia finial, kotiate  -  Maori, New Zealand

Group of Oceanic fishing lures  -  Various cultures, nineteenth century

Information and images courtesy of Webb's

Tribal Art Auction - Lempertz, March 31

Lempertz of Cologne will present a sale of fine tribal art in Brussels on March 31. Among the lots will be an admirable selection of beautiful works from Oceania and West and Central Africa, the highlight of which comes in the form of a New Ireland uli figure once owned by the German artist Otto Dix.

http://www.lempertz.eu

Uli figure  -  New Ireland

Caryatid stool  - Luba, DR Congo

Ancestor skull  -  Asmat, Papua New Guinea

Mask  -  Vuvi, Gabon

Ivory figurine  -  Lega, DR Congo

 

 

 

Zoomorphic bowl  -  Fiji

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information and images courtesy of Lempertz

Winter Sale at Sotheby's

Sotheby's Paris will present its winter tribal art auction on Wednesday, December 14. Featuring a wide array of outstanding works from Africa and Oceania, the sale should generate its most intense bidding around a number of gorgeous and uncommon objects from West and Central Africa. Among the auction's most anticipated offerings will be a pair of fascinating Yoruba/Nago figural groups; an impressive anthropomorphic Dan spoon; a Bangwa power figure with numerous charge niches; a compelling and unusual Lega ivory statuette; and a beautifully rendered Luluwa bust.

View the online catalogue at the official Sotheby's website.

Winter Sale at Christie's

Christie's Paris will present its winter sale of tribal art on Tuesday, December 13. Showcasing a fine assemblage of African and Oceanic antiquities, the auction will be accompanied by an adjunct sale of compelling Oceanic works from the collection of Daniel Blau.
Highlights from the main sale will include a powerful Bamana female figure; a refined Fang ngil mask; a highly elegant Luba caryatid stool; and a mesmerizing Ashanti figure with outstretched arms.

View the online catalogue at the official Christie's website.

Rare Luba Caryatid Stool sells for €5.4 million at Sotheby's Oceanic and African Art sale in Paris

A rare Luba Caryatid Stool from the collection of Harry Bombeeck was the top lot at Sotheby's sale of Oceanic and African Art sale in Paris, fetching fa remarkable €5.4 million. The sale totaled €8.5 million. 

The 51 centimeter-high seat is an outstanding work by the important sculptor of the royal court of the kingdom of Luba, known as the Master of Buli. This caryatid stool has been in the collection of notorious African art collector and dealer Harry Bombeeck since the late 19th century and has not been exhibited in over 65 years. The stool once served as ceremonial object most likely used by the council of elders when they presided over court cases in the Luba kingdom. 

Other top lots included a Male Figure from the Turamarubi Group of Papua New Guinea, which sold for €360,750. The figurative wood sculpture of a muscular male figure with red seed eyes was estimated to sell for € 400,000 - 600,000. A 43-centimeter high Senufo Female Figure sold for €294,750, nearly double the high estimate of €70,000 - 10,000. 

The sale of works from a private New York collection preceded the Oceanic and African Art auction, with a respectable 82% of the 49 lots finding buyers. The sale totaled €3.3 million. The auction's highlight was the Magnificent Fang Head from Gabon, which fetched €912,750. The work was offered for sale from the collection of Parisian African art dealer Paul Guillaume. 

New! Video Preview for Sotheby's African and Oceanic Sale

Video Preview for Sotheby's African and Oceanic Auction in Paris !!


Masterpieces of African art are today recognized as being amongst the world's greatest art treasures. The majority was created by anonymous artists who did not sign their work. Concerned with the question of artistic individuality among African sculptors, art historians have attempted to identify the particular characteristics of individual 'master-hands'. Join Marguerite de Sabran, Head of Department, Paris, as she shares the story of this Luba female caryatid stool by the "Master of Buli."


Watch the video

Christie's African and Oceanic Sale features works from Kahane Collection

Christie's will offer works from the legendary Swiss dealer Isidor Kahane in its African and Oceanic auction this Wednesday, December 1 in Paris. (See our preview here)

Directly following the sale of works from the Kahane Collection are 81 lots of African and Oceanic art.  Top lots include a 35 cm-high Maternity figure from the Congo, depicting a mother seated with her legs crossed, and carrying her young child in one arm. In excellent condition with a fine wood petina, the work is estimated at 60,000 to 90,000 euros.

Also of note in the Oceanic offerings is a Maori Nephrite Pendant from the collection of legendary Oceanic art merchant, William O. Oldman. The pendant is made of nephrite, a rock in the jade family indigenous to the rivers of New Zealand. It depicts the hei tiki, most likely poised (arms on thighs) to preform the ritual dance preceding the Maori War, the Haka. The 9.5 cm-high pendant is estimated to sell for 15,000 - 20,000 euros.

For more information or to request a catalog, visit www.christies.com.