Buying African & Tribal arts: the facts
Only a few passionate collectors are able to recognize if a piece is
genuine or fake.
Originally these pieces were ritual and related to religious practices
of every day life: pregnancy, marriage, illness, death, and the honoring
of the chiefs and deaths family members. They were
not made for museums ( and our cathedrals where not made for tourists).
Not all pieces were used often, and not all worn pieces are old. The
tribes in some African countries, for example the Dogon in Mali used the
masks from generation to generation. But in other countries they were
used once and thrown away.
There is a very big market for pieces made recently in Africa for
decoration shops, but these pieces don't have the same value as the
originals, even if at first sight they look the same.
Top Ten tips to determine african art value and authenticity:
- Look at the piece. Is it well carved, is the patina logical (worn at
tops not in the holes). When you look with an magnifying glass there may
not be parallel lines (from the emery paper). Is the style coherent.
Compare it with similar pieces from Museums.
- The ethnical provenance. Even of same quality , the art of different
tribes can have huge price differences. E.g.: Luba has more value than
Lobi.
- Pedigree. A piece from a collector from the thirties has a bigger
value than a similar piece which recently came out of the jungle. Even
some very banal pieces from famous artists have reached very high
prices. When the piece is published in a book or catalogue.
- Fashion. Currently the fashion is for the aesthetics and decorative
aspect of a piece. Collectors of modern art are more interested in the
forms than in patina and quality.
- Conservation state: too much restoration decreases the value.
- Rareness. Did you find that Guro statue?
- Size does matter, most pieces are 40/50 cm . Bigger pieces go for more
money, even of same quality.
- Auction result prices makes some Tribes more valuable when there is a
record price.
- When it is fresh on the market and from a Tribe with small production.
- And last but not least the seller. A very well known gallery,
artist, collector, may ask more than double the price than from an
unknown merchant or someone who doesn't know what he is selling.
Have also a look on the Tribe
and Sculpture
pages.
Click to view african sculpture
or
masks or Oceanic &
other objects.
More questions:
send an email
David
Norden African Shop
Or fill in our : Feedback
form.
Sint Katelijnevest 27
B2000 Antwerp -Belgium
phone: +32 3 227 35 40
Maybe you prefer to buy books on african art:
Or chat with me if I am there :
