Carefully Curated Ensembles of African & Oceanic Art to Be Offered at Sotheby's

On June 16 in Paris, Sotheby’s will offer one of the most carefully curated ensembles of African & Oceanic Art to be offered on the market in recent years. The works come from a number of esteemed private collections, including the famous Friede collection, and the sale is divided equally between Oceania and Africa. The objects have been selected based on their quality and rarity, reflecting the talent of the great artists of these two continents.

Oceanic Art
Following the tremendous success of the Rosenthal Collection in March 2010 in Paris, and the sales in Paris (5 December 2009) and New York (14 May 2010) the June 2010 auction pays tribute to the eye of John Friede and his work in promoting the recognition of the art of New Guinea and presents a rare sequence of Maori taonga from a number of private collections.

Twelve sculptures from the Marcia & John Friede Jolika Collection illustrate the archaic beauty and power of New Guinea art. Five of these objects were formerly on view at The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, de Young Museum, San Francisco from October 2005 through February 2010. A rare 15th –17th century Ewa figure, 3ft 6in. tall, is a superb illustration of the conceptual boldness and ethereal beauty of a tradition whose sculpture counts among the oldest known from New Guinea (lot 9, est. €300,000-500,000). This figure has been dated to between 1440 and 1650 by the C14 method. Also presented is a powerful male figure from the Lower Sepik, 28in. tall, amongst the most remarkable examples of the style which developed in the region (lot 13, est. €250,000-350,000). Its long curved nose, typical of the Kandimbong figures which portray the tribe’s mythical founder. The figure was photographed in the French art dealer, Pierre Loeb’s Paris apartment in 1929 and exhibited for the first time in 1930 at the Galerie Pigalle in an exhibition which reflected the growing enthusiasm of the Surrealists for the innovative sculpture from Melanesia.

Polynesian art is represented by a group of important and archaic Maori taonga (treasures), which reflect the wealth and variety of the traditional art of New Zealand. Highlights include a large ware canoe prow, 3ft 8in long (lot 21, est. €80,000-120,000), collected during the Korrigane expedition between 1934 and 1936, and an exquisitely refined rare nephrite ear pendant, 12in. long (lot 22, est. €8,000-12,000). The surrealist design and great rarity of the stone-carved intricate Maori carving, 11in. long, together with the mystery surrounding its use, make it one of the most sought-after expressions of Maori art (lot 23, est. €50,000-70,000). Many of these sculptures boast the most distinguished provenances, including Pitt Rivers, Webster, Beasley, La Korrigane, Epstein, Ratton, and Monzino.

African Art
A magnificent and rare Senufo equestrian figure (Ivory Coast), 11in. tall, was one of the highlights at the Resonances exhibition at the Basel Art Centre in January 1984, where it was displayed opposite Picasso’s Flute Player. By underlining the formal and aesthetic overlap between Tribal and Modern Art, this exhibition anticipated Primitivism in 20th Century Art at MoMA a few months later and the Bildweltung/Visual Encounters exhibition at the Beyeler Foundation in 2009. The figure evokes the power and dignity associated with equestrian figures amongst the Senufo, captured in forms that would profoundly influence modern art (lot 39, est. €80,000-120,000).

Amongst the discoveries revealed in the sale are two previously unknown Chokwe masterpieces (Angola) acquired in 1903 and 1905, and kept in the same European family ever since: a sceptre 16in. tall (lot 74, est. €70,000-100,000); and a finial from a sceptre-tobacco box, 6in. tall (lot 75, est. €80,000-120,000). These two exceptionally rare works are attributed to the Moxico School, whose 18th and 19th century court carvers produced the most powerful and refined works of Chokwe art.

The art of Central Africa features prominently, including a magnificent and rare Kuyu three-faced head (Democratic Republic of the Congo), height 14in., collected by Aristide Courtois before 1938 and then owned by Madeleine Rousseau, Hélène Kamer, and Daniel Cordier (lot 72, est. €200,000-300,000). This is one of the few known Kuyu three-faced heads. Only three other examples are documented – one in the British Museum, one in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and another formerly in the Vérité collection. With exceptional talent the artist has made each face a unique expression of Kuyu ideals of strength and beauty.

A remarkable Hemba ancestor figure (D.R. Congo), 2ft 7in. tall, is one of the most remarkable pieces in the Niembo-Luika style, whose workshops produced the most prestigious works of Hemba art (lot 73, est. €350,000-500,000). The figure’s beauty and authority derive from its form and rhythm. The ancestor’s presence, underscored by the presence of cowry shells in the eye sockets, is very rare for the Hemba. To François Neyt, this masterly work dates from the first half of the 19th century – a period of intense cultural development, when the ancestor figure tradition was at its height.

Viewing
Friday 11 June 10am-6pm
Saturday 12 June 10am-6pm
Monday 14 June 10am-6pm
Tuesday 15 June 10am-6pm

Source: Art Daily

Native American Art at Bonhams & Butterfields June 7th in San Francisco

Highlights for June include the large and fine collection of early silver, turquoise, coral and shell jewelry from the Breitbart Collection, which includes Navajo, Hopi, Pueblo and Zuni bracelets, necklaces and a first-phase Navajo concha belt with eight oval silver conchas, expected to bring $18/28,000.

Click here for the complete catalogue listing.

Bonhams in New York City During Tribal Week

A major highlight of NYC Tribal Week is the Bonhams auction on Thursday May 13th, 2010 at 1pm.. The preview of the auction as already began, but there is still time: on Tuesday, May 11th and Wednesday May 12th from 10am to 5pm the lots can be examined. There is even an extended viewing period after the auction on Thursday, May 13th from 10am-1pm.

Bonham's Fine African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art sales feature unique and traditional works from sub-Saharan Africa, Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Indonesia and Australia that were created in the early 20th Century or earlier, and works from Central and South America that were created prior to European Contact in the 16th Century. Made by the artists for religious, ceremonial or secular use within their culture, objects in the sale include figurative sculpture, masks, reliquaries, shrines, architectural ornaments, clubs, shields, vessels, stools, neck rests, instruments, body adornment and many daily utilitarian objects.

Recognizing the strong interest in African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art on both the East and the West Coasts, Bonham's auctions are held twice annually in New York and San Francisco. Our New York sales feature a diverse selection of premier items while the San Francisco sales showcase more affordable works of art. A fully illustrated catalogue accompanies each auction and is distributed worldwide to collectors, dealers and institutions. A public preview precedes each auction where guests are invited to view artwork first-hand and encouraged to ask questions.



A highlight from the sale (pictured above) is an important Bamana Ntomo Mask from Mail with an estimated value of $50,000 to $70,000.

For the full catalogue of lots on sale, click here.

Sotheby's African, Oceanic and Pre Columbian Art Sale, Preview Begins May 8th

Sotheby’s spring sale of African, Oceanic and Pre Columbian Art will be held on 14 May 2010 and will offer collectors a selection of tribal arts from important American and international private collections. The auction comprises an especially rich offering of Oceanic works of art, many of which are icons of the field. Prior to the auction, the works, which are estimated to bring more than $5.1 million, will be exhibited to the public at Sotheby’s New York galleries beginning 8 May 2010.

Oceanic Art

The spring auction will comprise works from the JOLIKA Collection of Marcia and John Friede, led by the sale’s star lot, a Biwat (Mundugumor) Male Ancestor Spirit Figure from a Sacred Flute, wusear, Papua New Guinea (est. $1/1.5 million). No figure as complete or of such high quality is known ever to have appeared at auction. One of the most iconic genres of Melanesian art, wusear are male spirit figures that were placed on top of the sacred flutes of the Biwat people on the shores of the middle Yuat River in Papua New Guinea. Vertically inserted into the bamboo flute, wusear were effigies who ‘spoke’ through the flute, and were sacred property of a clan. Also offered from the JOLIKA collection are an Asmat Shield, Unir (Lorenz) River, Irian Jaya (est. $70/100,000) and a Middle Sepik River Gable Mask, Papua New Guinea, that once belonged to Bela Hein, the legendary early 20th century Paris-based dealer and collector of African art (est. $120/180,000).

Also among the Oceanic works on offer is a Hawaiian Feather Cape formerly in the collection of the Niagara Falls Museum, Canada (est. $300/500,000). Feather-covered shoulder capes are widely recognized and appreciated hallmarks of traditional Hawaiian culture; the present example features brilliantly colored red, black and yellow feathers. No two capes are alike in their design and most were created for specific individuals. Also formerly in the collection of the Niagara Falls Museum, an Austral Islands Chief Necklace will be offered (est. $300/500,000). Austral necklaces of this type are among the rarest and most sought after of all Polynesian artifacts. No more than twenty are known to exist and among these the present example is unique in having so many ivory and bone elements.

African Art

Among the African works on offer is a Banda Ancestor Figure from the Ubangi Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo that is attributed to the Master of Mobaye (est. $250/400,000). For a traditionally anonymous art form such as African Art, the notion of an individual artist is rare, and only a handful of artists are known by name. Only eight figures have been attributed to the Master of Mobaye, who was active in the second half of the 19th century.

A Rare Fang-Betsi Reliquary Ensemble will also be offered, featuring a male ancestor figure with its original container used to house family relics (est. $250/350,000). Complete Fang reliquary ensembles consisting of a bark container for the relics of deceased clan elders surmounted by a sculptural element made of wood, such as a head, torso, or full figure, are exceedingly rare.

A Fang Reliquary Head from Gabon (est. $150/250,000), featured left, boasts an exceptional provenance which parallels the influence of African art on modern art throughout the 20th century. Among the storied line of owners of the present lot: gallerist and early partner of Alfred Stieglitz, Marius de Zayas: distinguished New York collector John Quinn, who in 1919 commissioned Charles Sheeler to photograph the work as part of a portfolio of his African collection; Joseph Brummer, who was well known as Constantin Brancusi’s dealer but perhaps lesser known as one of the foremost dealers of African art in the early 20th century; French painter and famed African collector André Derain; noted New York 1960s and 1970s dealer of African Art Merton D. Simpson; and Carlo Monzino, one of Italy’s leading collectors of Post-war art.

Pre-Columbian Art

The Pre-Columbian section of the auction features a rare Taino Wood Snuffer, Haiti, ca. AD 1300-1500, (est. $80/120,000), one of only three known examples. The slender tubular object would have been used in the elite shamanic cohoba ceremonies; the inhalation of the fine cohoba powder induced a ritual hallucinatory experience. It is carved with a bird-man figure, representing the transformation and journey of a shaman. Originally acquired in the 1930's, the snuffer has been in one family's collection.

A Large Vera Cruz seated figure, Classic, ca. AD 450-650, of the El Zapotal style, a form which rarely appears at auction, is another highlight of the sale (est. $125/150,000). The seated figure of a young warrior has an intense and life-like expression, shown with minimal accoutrements or clothing, emphasizing an inner strength and spirit.

Several single-owner groupings will also be featured, including a variety of Central American gold animal pendants, and a fine group of Costa Rican polychrome ceramics from a Private Collection. The sale also includes a selection of stone and ceramic Andean and Central American figures from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, all of which were published in the 1983 and 1985 Sackler catalogues.

From Mexico and the Maya areas, the auction includes West Mexican figures from the collection of Benjamin Johnson- a noted conservator and art historian from Los Angeles; Fine Maya stucco polychrome head of a dignitary, Late Classic, ca. A.D. 550-950 (est. $25/35,000); and two 19th C. casts of the famous 7th C. Yaxchilan lintels 24 and 25, featuring Lady Xoc in her bloodletting and hallucinatory ceremonies celebrating the accession of her husband Shield Jaguar (est. $10/15,000 and $12/15,000 respectively).

Source: www.artdaily.com

Lempertz Tribal Art Auction in Belgium This Week

Featuring African and Oceanic Art from an old Belgian Collection and other private owners, Lempertz will be hosting its Tribal Arts Auction in Brussels on Saturday, April 24th. The preview is going on now and will run until just before the auction.

Below are some lots up for for sale. Visit www.lempertz.com for more details.

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 462

Neck rest with zoomorphic form. Probably Ngoni, Malawi (although described as Nguni, South Africa).

Wood, small residues of dark brown patina, red glass beads (eyes), four conical-shaped legs supporting a slightly vaulted pillow with stylized head and tail, the body marked by a tapering abdomen with incised triangular ornaments and small diamond-shaped opening, slightly dam., scratches, paint rubbed off, small cavity (left foreleg); the neck rest belonged to Wilhelm Pohlig, a Sanitary Sergeant serving in the Guardian Forces of General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck in German East Africa. Wilhelm Pohlig's son, Helmut, was six years old, when the colony collapsed after several years of grim resistance. He and his mother were the last citizens of the empire who left the colony. The death of his father, who died of a severe malaria attack in a British Military Hospital, prevented them to leave the country in time. Just on personal intervention of General Lettow-Vorbeck a last ship was allowed to land and embark Helmut and his mother in the harbour of Dar es Salam. Neckrests served as pillows and preserved the elaborate and artificial coiffures during sleep.

Length: 36 cm; Height: 17 cm.

Estimate: 30,000 - 60,000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 418

Neckrest. Yaka, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Wood, brown patina, in shape of a quadruped, supporting a rectangular pillow with curved sides, decorated with metal tags, min. dam., small missing parts, traces of insect caused damage, on wooden base; elaborate coiffures necessitate an object of traditional furniture as a headrest "musaw". When lying on one's side, this small object supports the head just below the ear at the junction of neck and head. It is probable that most Yaka headrests had a charm packet inserted into a prepared cavity, or charms where otherwise attached. This served to protect the owner from malevolent influences while sleeping.

Height: 16 cm; Length: 30 cm.

Estimate: 10000 - 20000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 353

Pair of ancestor figures. Mangbetu, Democratic Eepublic of Congo, Area of Uele.

Wood, honey brown patina, dark brown paint (coiffure), strings of fabric with attached animal claws, a male and a female, with compact bodies, showing voluminous, round forms, the arms worked in flat relief, while the hands are elaborate carved and show different gestures, crowned by cylindrical coiffures, enhancing the elegant length of the heads, slightly dam., minor missing parts (right ear of the female), hairline cracks, place of repair (both feet of the male figure), on base; a work of Dopia Mototo. A figurative bark box of the same artist was auctioned at Sotheby's New York (May 19, 2000, lot 269). The attribution is clearly proven, stylistical and by inscription: "DOPIA MOTOTO NA BAKENGE ASSALI". It came from Egon Geunther, Johannesburg, former Emil Storrer, Zurich. A further closely related example of a male bark box is kept in the collection of the Hamburg, Museum für Völkerkunde (Zwernemann/Lohse, 1985, ill. 179). Present figures, as well as the two figural bark boxes are nice examples for the naturalistic tendency in Mangbetu art. The Mangbetu settle along the banks of Bomokandi River in Northeastern Zaire. In former times they had a prosperous kingdom. Mangbetu art in general is court-oriented, and was reserved for the ruling classes. It reflected wealth, and prestige of its owners and therefore was mainly restricted on the design of basic commodities and ritual objects. Figures are rather rare and can be looked upon as ancestor figures in general. Their style is affected by a lengthened skull, the most outstanding beauty ideal of Mangbetu aristocracy. Individuals of advanced age among the Mangbetu still designate these statues by the name "beli". According to them, they were used in hidden locals by the secret society of the name "nebeli". The rare witnesses we have to these Nebeli rites confirm the existence of statuettes of spirits or ancestors, kept at these secret places.

Height: 45 cm.

Estimate: 50,000 - 100,000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 268

Face mask "ngil.” Fang, Gabon.

Wood, small residues of brown patina and kaolin, characteristic elongated face with a concave heart-shaped vaulted facial plane, eyes and mouth in narrow slits, the coiffure unusual for the mask type, consisting of a three-parted middle crest and lobes aside, typically painted with a thick layer of kaolin, backside in the chin area pierced around the rim, slightly dam. (coiffure, right eye), cracks (above all at the right corner of the mouth/chin), minor missing parts on the upper rim backside; the white painted "ngil"-face masks represent a mask tradition, extinguished since the middle of the 20th century. According insufficient is our knowledge about these masks. The typical face painting with white kaolin, reminds of the power of the ancestors and implies that the mask represents the spirit of a deceased. The mask figures wore raffia costumes. Their frightening and deterrent effect was enhanced by the fact that they mostly appeared during the night with flaring light. It's affiliation to the "ngil" society, is controversial nowadays. Essentially there are known three mask types of the Fang. Aside the "ngil" there are the so-called "ekekek" masks, appearing as demons for a secret society, as well as the multi-faced "ngontang" helmet masks. They are said to represent the ghost of the white woman, a powerful spirit, detecting and punishing sorcerers.

Height: 39 cm.

Estimate: 70,000 - 150,000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 258

Reliquary Guardian Figure. Fang-Beti, Mabea, Southern Cameroon.

Wood, matt reddish brown patina, traces of black paint, seated posture, the stylized hands touch each other, mirror glass eyes with metal framing, metal foils on the shoulders and in the area of the abdomen, as well as on the face (scarifications), slightly dam., cracks (head, upper part of the body), missing parts (both foot tips), on base; on the buttocks, we can identify the remainder of sawn wood, indicating that the figure was part of a "byeri" ensemble. Originally, she sat as a guardian on a high, drum-shaped bark container, or on a basket, which contained relics of the founder of a clan, but frequently also skulls and bones of other men and women, who had distinguished themselves in the clan community. All "byeri" ancestor figures originally were decorated with a headdress of feathers "aseng", which is proved by the drilled holes in the coiffure of present figure. Possibly the valuable feathers were kept, when selling the figure. Only special initiated men were allowed to view the contents of these containers, which were brought outdoors on specific occasions to receive offerings. The extraordinary outlines of these figures were clearly visible in the twilight of the shacks, where they were kept. Moreover, the shine of the bright mirror glass eyes, as well as the reflections of the brass foils created a threatening impression. To obtain the metal foils, the Fang used european brass plates, called "Neptuns". There are various proposals concerning the meaning of the reliquary figures, they are considered as memorial figures, portraits of the deceased, sometimes they are connected with a kind of reincarnation cult. The Fang only migrated about 300 years ago to their present settlements, either expelling or assimilating the local residents. The term Fang implies a population consisting of numerous subgroups, living in the south-western Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and in the north-western Gabon. A clear assignment of their works of art is quite difficult. When regarding head and neck, the present figure could be attributed to the Mabea. While the fitting with metal sheet in the shoulder area, as well as the mirror glass eyes with metal framing and the geometrical-cubistic conception of the fgure as a whole refers to the Ngumba, Southern Cameroon.

Height: 49 cm, 19th century.

Estimate: 80,000 - 150,000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 252

Head crest "tu ngünga." Bamum, Cameroon.

Wood, reddish brown shiny patina with traces of black paint, the structure of the face consisting of arching brows, merging into a slender nose, completed by a protruding square mouth below, the remaining components increasing the expressive effect: conical protruding eyeballs and "balloon-like" inflated cheeks, accompanied by flap-like projections, crowned by a coiffure in two bulbous lobes with burled structure, slightly dam., minor missing parts (neck, chin, cheeks), on block-like base; possibly once belonging to the war society "nsorro", which performed masquerades on the occasion of funeral ceremonies. The head crest was completed by a female partner. Nowadays "nsorro" is danced for entertainment, on festive occasions in Fumban and in the Bamum palace. The crest can be attributed to the artist "Ndam nji Mare" from the village of Makoutam. There are several head crests coming from the Malantuen area showing such striking similar features, that all of them can be attributed to "nji mare". One of them came to the Musée de l' Homme in Paris in 1934. As a highlight of the museum it was even published on a postcard. A further crest once belonged to the painter Maurice de Vlaminck and was exhibited in 2008 in the Rietberg Museum in Zurich.

Height: 50 cm, 19/20th Century

Estimate: 20,000 - 40,000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 97

Amulet. Atié, Ivory Coast.

Gold, disc-shaped, showing delicate decorations and an anthropomorphic face, on metal base; standard: ca. 15-16 k, weight: ca. 13 g; those amulets belonging to the most skilful and precious gold works of the Akan, showing elaborate coiffures, beards and scarification marks.

Measurements: 5.2 x 5.2 cm.

Estimate: 2500 - 5000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 82

Pair of figures "bateba phuwe." Lobi, Burkina Faso.

Wood, greyish-brown encrusted (sacrificial) patina, a male and a female figure, regular, schematized features, "phisa" coiffure, slightly dam, minor missing parts (foot tips), cracks, the upper layer of the encrusted surface removed in some areas (insect caused damage), on blocklike base; regarding the modelling of arms and legs or special details like the grooved spine, both figures seem to be uniform. But considered as a whole the female figure is much more perfected, shoulders, breast- and back-area are modelled more powerful and harmonious, so that the bigger female can be regarded as the work of a master, while the male might be a work of a scholar or workshop. The analog patina in any case points to a common place of original location. According to the Lobi, god once sent the "thila" to the people, who should take care of their well-being and should sustain the organization of society. The "thila" used to contact men, more rarely women, and order the building of a shrine and the carving of the "bateba" figures. The sooth sayer "buor" acts as mediator between the "thila" and the people. He is consulted because of various reasons, for example in case of any disaster or sickness. The "bateba" figures come alive and active when they are positioned on a shrine. They combine human appearance and certain superhuman qualities of the "thila", they are their assistants to a certain extent. Accordingly "bateba" are able to recognize witches and fight them, as well as prevent harm, imposed by the witches. They were called "bateba duntundara". At which four types are distinguished: the "bateba phuwe" (the so-called "ordinary bateba"), the "bateba bambar" ("paralyzed bateba"), the "bateba ti puo" ("dangereous persons") and the "bateba ti bala" (the extraordinary persons"). Present figures belong to the ordinary "bateba phuwe", because they show no special gesture or any odd physiological attribute. There is no difference in strength between male and female "bateba", and even the size seems to have no influence on their fighting power. At which "bateba", as big in size as the present ones, are only rare to be found nowadays.

Height: 82 cm (male), 84 cm (female)

Estimate: 18000 - 40000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 11

Ancestor skull "ndambirkus.” Asmat, Area of Ocenep, Papua New Guinea.

Bone, polished, broad bone structure, the lower jaw and the modelled nose missing, as well as the decoration of the eye-sockets with bees wax and seeds, plant fibre headband with coix-seeds and red abrus-seeds, tufts of cassowary feathers and seashells attached, signs of age and usage on the underside, presumably from using the skull as "pillow."

Measurements: 19 x 15 x 40 cm, 1st third of the 20th century

estimate: 2300 - 4500 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview

African and Oceanic Tribal Arts are being celebrated at the upcoming 60th Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction. Held in Würzburg, Germany the auction will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 2pm. There will also be a preview of the works up for sale from 10am to 7pm on Wednesday, March 10 through Friday March 12. Also, on the day of the auction, potential buyers can come in early, from 9am- 1:30pm, so a last minute peak before the auction officially begins.

Of course, those interested in the African and Tribal works can certainly check them out on the web before hand, by visiting the Online Catalogue.

Stay tuned to the Jacaranda Tribal Blog over the next week as we highlight some most impressive lots up for sale.

Sotheby's African and Oceanic Art Auction Preview

Hot off the heels of yesterday's Christie's sale in Paris, Sotheby's sale happens today. There are some interesting contrasts between the two sales from the top two auction houses in the world. Whereas Christie's had only two objects for sale above €100,000, Sotheby's is offering 12 of only a 65 lot sale (18%) above that price. In addition, 80% (or 52 lots) are for sale at an estimate above €10,000. But in the end it is the quality of the pieces and the interest in the room that will determine how well this sale goes. 

We'd like to highlight several pieces including Lot 87, a magnificent and rare Kwele 'altar' figure, Gabon. This lot is offered for sale between €450,000 and €600,000. It is an exceptionally fine piece and we believe there will be ample interest in it. 

Lot 89 is A fine and powerful Fang Mvai figure, Ntem Valley, Gabon. This object is estimated to fetch between €150,000 and €250,000.

Stay tuned for the results of the auction coming up. 

Dori Rootenberg

JacarandaTribal.com

Christie's Tribal Art Sale in Paris Preview

The Christie's Art Africain et Oceanien sale is going on at this very moment. The auction, comprised of 227 lots total, has some very fine pieces in the sale. A few we'd like profile include Lot 236, a Rare and Magnificent Maori Statue that is estimated to fetch between €150,000 and €250,000. I had the pleasure of seeing this piece in the Christie's showroom in New York and it is ever better looking in person than online. Chrisitie's has done a thorough write up in English on this object that might be of interest to some of you. 

In addition, Lot 311 is a rather fine piece. The object, an Important Songye Statute is estimated to fetch between €100,000 and €150,000. Notably, these are the only two objects in the sale that have estimates in the €100,000 range. And even more important, there are only 25 objects (only 9%) in total with estimates over €10,000. 

Stay tuned for the results of this auction and we'll be posting more soon. 

Dori Rootenberg

JacarandaTribal.com

Sotheby's Tribal Art Auction Preview

Sotheby’s is offering a second tribal arts auction in addition to the Chaim Gross auction on 15 May. This sale will focus on African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian art – though a majority of the best pieces are Oceanic. The sale is slated to fetch more than $3 million if all lots meet their low estimate.

The sale consists of 94 objects including two very fine African pieces:

Lot 158: a Dogon, Wakara style figure from Mali. Within the broad corpus of Dogon statuary, examples of the Wakara sub-style are exceedingly rare. This work is estimated to bring between $200,000 and $300,000.

Lot 170: a Fang-Betsi reliquary head from Gabon, Africa. The work is estimated to fetch between $200,000 and $300,000. Sotheby’s catalog describes it as follows: “this magnificent head was identified by Perrois (1972: 333) as a typical example of the "school of Mitzic" a regional substyle of the Fang-Betsi. The offered lot is distinguished by the relatively small size of the face, the bulbous forehead, and a compressed profile, all combining to a maximum effect when seen from the front.”

This, as with the Chaim Gross auction, will be an interesting marker for the Tribal Art world. We shall see how the economy will bear on this latest American auction. We hope that with several fine pieces in the sale, that this sale will do better than previous auctions this spring. 

Dori Rootenberg

www.JacarandaTribal.com

Sotheby's Chaim Gross Tribal Art Auction Preview

Sotheby’s is offering a sale of tribal art from the collection of the Renee and Chaim Gross Foundation. Chaim Gross, well known Modernist sculptor, and his wife Renee collected African and Oceanic tribal art during the 1940s and 1950s. They were some of the earliest and most enthusiastic collectors of tribal art in the United States. In the 1940s, Gross acquired the Crowninshield collection, formerly of Vanity Fair editor Frank Crowninshield. Many of these works had been exhibited in the 1937 Brooklyn Museum exhibition “African Negro Art from the Collection of Frank Crowninshield."

Highlights of the sale include:

Lot 9: The Soninke Hermaphrodite Figure from Mali, possibly 12th to 15th Century, estimated at $400,000 to $600,000

Lot 25: A Senufo Kneeling Female Figure from the Ivory Coast purchased in the 1950s from Merton D. Simpson, estimated between $250,000 to $350,000

Lot 67: Ngbaka Male Ancestor Figure from the Ubangi region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from the Crowninshield collection, estimated at $400,000 to $600,000

This should be an extraordinary sale with several exceptionally rare and high quality pieces. Because of the unexpectedly good results of the Sotheby’s Rosenthal sale in November 2008, the consignors must have very high expectations from this auction.

Works from the sale will be on exhibition at Sotheby’s New York from May 9-14, 2009 and the sale will take place on May 15 at 10.00am in New York.

More information is available in Sotheby’s press release. 

Dori Rootenberg

www.JacarandaTribal.com

Lempertz Tribal Art Auction

25 April 2009 marks the annual Lempertz Tribal Art Auction in Cologne, Germany. Lempertz is one of the most well recognized art auction houses in Europe and the oldest family-owned one in the world. It has a rich history in the tribal arts field.

189 lots will be auctioned off at the upcoming auction. Those interested may see the collection at the auction house in Cologne during the coming week and in Brussels the following week.

Preview in Cologne

Tuesday 14 April - Friday 17 April

10 am - 1 pm and 2 pm - 5.30 pm

Saturday 18 April

10 am - 4 pm

Preview in Brussels

Tuesday 21 April – Friday 24 April

10 am - 6 pm

Saturday 25 April

10 am - 1 pm

The highlight of the auction is Lot 183, a Fine and Important Mangbetu Container that is estimated to fetch between €40,000 and €60,000. The Mangbetu are a culturally sophisticated tribe located in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This base of this cylindrical container takes the form of a round traditional Mangbetu stool. Its center is formed from bark and its base and the wooden lid is a finely carved human head with a heart-shaped face, pointed chin, a small 
protruding mouth, a slender 
nose and round convex eyes. The container represents the elegant face of a 
Mangbetu woman sitting on a title 
stool, wearing the typical basketry 
disc on her hair.

In addition to the Mangbetu container, there are several other lots of particular interest including Lot 40, a Fine Lobi/Birifor Pair of Figures estimated between €32,000 and €38,000.

Lot 51, a Fine Senufo Staff estimated between €20,000 and €25,000.

Lot 54, a Fine Baule Mask estimated at €36,000.

And Lot 60, a Fine Baule Female Figure estimated between €34,000 and €38,000.

Stay tuned for the results and our auction summary after 25 April.

Dori Rootenberg

www.JacarandaTribal.com