Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Bonhams Announces Results of African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art Sale in New York

Bonhams announce the November 11, 2010 results of African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art sale in New York. The auction featured unique and traditional works from Africa, Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Indonesia, Australia, Central and South America from as early as 1200 B.C. to the 15th Century, prior to European contact.

Fredric Backlar, Director, African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art, said, “We are extremely pleased with today’s results. There was competitive bidding internationally from Europe, the Americas, and Australia. He adds, “I was thrilled to see so many new and existing domestic and international bidders. Our sale today demonstrated that there is a competitive market for quality works of art across all price levels.”

The top lot, Pere Trumpet, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was estimated at $3,000-5,000 and sold for $109,800. Measuring 37 inches in height, the trumpet is an elongated shape with open work ribbing design as the sound hole and incised geometric design on the surface.

The succeeding principal lot of the afternoon was the Monumental Chinesco Female Figure, Type A, Protoclassic, ca. 100 B.C.-A.D. 250 (est. $60,000-80,000, sold for $79,300). The figure, measuring 25 inches in height, is a hollow ceramic of a seated nude female. It is one of at least three sculptures that are nearly identical and created by the same artist; it is quite rare for ceramics of such antiquity.

Highlights included: a Veracruz Seated Dignitary, Early Classic/Classic, ca. A.D. 200-800 (est. $18,000-25,000, sold for $17,080); a Rare Wood Lance, katoua, Niue Islands (est. $12,000-18,000, sold for $11,590); a Guro Heddle Pulley, Ivory Coast (est. $5,000-7,000, sold for $10,980); and a Kerewa Skull Rack, agiba, Goaribari Island, Papua New Guinea (est. $8,000-12,000, sold for $10,370).

Other works of note were: a Veracruz Standing Priest, Remojadas, Classic/Late Classic, ca. A.D. 450-950 (est. $9,000-12,000, sold for $10,370); an Ifugao Male Ancestor Figure, bulul, Philippines (est. $3,000-5,000, sold for $10,370); a Teotihuacán Lidded Incensario, Teo III Style, Class, ca. A.D. 450-650 (est. $9,000-12,000, sold for $9,760); and a Maori Canoe Bailer, tata, New Zealand (est. $6,000-8,000, sold for $9,150).

www.bonhams.com/africanandoceanic

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *