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African art collecting

Figure of the culture hero Chibinda Ilunga, Workshop of the Chokwe region, Angola, around 1850 Wood, Museum Rietberg, 2007.1, Gift acquired through Novartis 5 2007.1

How to Train Your Eye in African Art: 3 Practical Tips for Collectors

Chibinda Ilunga figure, Chokwe, Angola — Museum RietbergThis article is based on a recent newsletter I sent to collectors.    Over the years, I’ve noticed that most collectors are not lacking interest — they are lacking orientation. Where do you look? What do you trust? And how do you train your eye? In this guide, I share three practical directions… Read More »How to Train Your Eye in African Art: 3 Practical Tips for Collectors

Baule Standing Figure-African Art

Collecting African Art Without Regret — Even in a Changing Market

Hi  African Art collector , Some dealers would like you to believe that all African art is rare and priceless. But we should remember that this is the art of an entire continent, home to hundreds of cultures and carving traditions — meaning there is truly something meaningful to collect at every level. While many of the pieces I offer… Read More »Collecting African Art Without Regret — Even in a Changing Market

Lobi

A Large Encrusted Lobi Figure: Why Some African Ritual Objects Are Not Easy to Sell

Not everything is easy to sell.I hesitated. I’ve kept this Lobi figure for many years. At first, very simply, because it is big.Eighty-one centimeters high, heavy, not easy to handle. For my in-house expeditions, it was never a convenient object. It always required more space, more care, more effort. But that was not the real reason. There is an elegance… Read More »A Large Encrusted Lobi Figure: Why Some African Ritual Objects Are Not Easy to Sell