Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • AMMpro
  • AMM Fantasy Collecting Game
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Bonhams Africa Now = £1.8m

October 9, 2018 by Marion Maneker

It’s African art season in London with Bonhams holding its sale last week and Sotheby’s coming up next week. The market for African art has turned slightly in the direction of Ben Enonwu who dominated Bonhams top ten list (above) with all but one of the sales. The top lot was another re-discovered version of the Tutu portrait that made £1.2m earlier this year at Bonhams. Below is Bonhams post-sale release:

Bonhams Africa Now 121-lot sale achieved an impressive £1,802,625 in London yesterday, 4 October. The sale offered a significant collection of works by Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu. His painting, Tutu, 1974, the second rediscovered portrait of Enwonwu’s famous sitter, the Ife royal, Princess Adetutu Ademiluyi, led the sale, selling for an impressive £320,750.

Nine of the top ten lots were by Ben Enwonwu, while works by Congolese artists Freddy Tsimba and Patrick Bongoy also performed well. Tsimba’s Centre fermé, rêve ouvert, achieved £12,500 and Patrick Bongoy’s,Revenants III, sold for £12,500.

The proceeds of the Congolese works were donated to the Malaika Foundation, a charity founded by the supermodel and philanthropist Noella Coursaris Musunka to empower Congolese girls and their communities; and AMADE, which provides help for vulnerable children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. AMADE is supported by Her Royal Highness Caroline, The Princess of Hanover.

Other top lots include:

Rhapsody in Blue, by Ben Enwonwu sold for £112,500 (estimate £60,000-90,000).

Enwonwu’s Ogolo, signed and dated 1992 sold for £112,500 (estimate £100,000-150,000).

Leonce Raphael Agbodjelou (Benin, born 1965) Untitled triptych, ‘Demoiselles de Porto-Novo’ seriesmore than doubled its estimate and sold for £37,500 (estimate £12,000 – 18,000).

Demas Nwoko’s Rickshaw Ride, sold for £81,250. (estimate £60,000-90,000).

Works by Aboudia Abdoulaye Diarrassouba, performed well with Untitled, 2016, achieving £ 25,000 (estimate £10,000-15,000) and ‘Gri Gri II’ (2016) £32,500 (estimate £18,000-25,000).

More from Art Market Monitor

  • Indian Titans Meet in ChelseaIndian Titans Meet in Chelsea
  • What the Market Will BearWhat the Market Will Bear
  • Sotheby’s $460.5 Million Year in Jewelry Sotheby’s $460.5 Million Year in Jewelry
  • Romanian Art Thief Wants to Make Deal, Paintings Were Not BurnedRomanian Art Thief Wants to Make Deal, Paintings Were Not Burned
  • Gund Gaitondes Make $2.77m at BonhamsGund Gaitondes Make $2.77m at Bonhams
  • Dealer’s Sister Arrested in Globe-Spanning Antiquities CaseDealer’s Sister Arrested in Globe-Spanning Antiquities Case

Filed Under: Auction Results

About Marion Maneker

LiveArt

Want to get Art Market Monitor‘s posts sent to you in our email? Sign up below by clicking on the Subscribe button.

  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
California Privacy Rights
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Advertise on Art Market Monitor
 

Loading Comments...