The market for African art continues to expand as Sotheby’s joins Bonhams in creating successful sales in the category. Led by a not-immediately-recognizable Njideka Akunyili Crosby work that made £200k over a £70k high estimate, Sotheby’s sale realised £1,802,750 ($2,555,038) or pretty much in line with the pre-sale estimates of between £1,167,500-1,707,000:

• Ben Enwonwu, whose work Africa Dances achieved six times its high estimate to sell for £187,500 / $265,744 (est. £20,000-30,000)
• Njideka Akunyili Crosby‘s À La Warhol, a self-portrait inspired by the silk screen portraits of Andy Warhol, sold for over double its high estimate to reach £200,000 / $283,460 (est. £50,000-70,000)
• Bodys Isek Kingelez’s Base King soared past its presale estimate to sell for £42,500 / $60,235 (est. £10,000-15,000)
• Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga’s Mangbetu, achieved £65,000 / $92,124, storming past the pre-sale estimate (est. £8,000-12,000)
• Claudette Schreuders Three Sisters sold for £60,000 / $85,038 (est. £18,000-22,000)

Sotheby’s provided some statistics to go along with the sale:

• 62 artists from 16 countries across Africa: Algeria, Morocco (North Africa), Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast , Mali, Nigeria, Senegal (West Africa), Ethiopia (East Africa), Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon (Central Africa), South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique (Southern Africa)
• 28 works (25% of the sale) were by artists from South Africa
• Only 6 works in the sale have ever been at auction before (5% of the sale)

Bidders and Buyers

• Buyers from 33 different countries
• One third of the successful bidders were from the African continent
• 19% of buyers were new to Sotheby’s