Colin Gleadell doesn’t let the fireworks around the Italian art market distract him from what else is going on. African art, which has been on the rise for quite some time, still hasn’t broken through on the auction market. Dealers seem to be keeping the momentum going though:

Bonhams’ contemporary African art sale was hit by withdrawn and unsold lots, but rescued a few record prices from what remained. However, gallery sales at 1:54, the fair for African art at Somerset House, were more buoyant. The Vigo gallery sold sculptures and drawings by Zak Ove, Ibrahim el Salahi and Hassan Hajjaj priced between £6,500 and £190,000 pounds to a variety of museums and private collectors, including the well-known American, Beth de Woody. Dealer Ed Cross sold out his stand of photographs by Mário Macilau, drawings by Eric Pina and paintings by Kimathi Donkor – all priced at under £5,000 each.

Market News: Italians like it hot (Telegraph)