Know the value of African statuary (2024)

FAQs

How do I know if my African art is valuable? ›

– ( does it have an old base, are there painted numbers or etiquettes on the piece, are cracks in the wood showing fresh wood or accumulation of Western dust, does the sculpture or mask have restoration and how where they done and by who, has the original patinaa been cleaned, a lack of odor is a good sign, style ...

A number of factors can indicate a particular region of Africa, or even a specific society: the techniques used to work metal (in some cases) and wood (usually), and the species of the latter when it can be ascertained; whether the object is painted or oiled; whether it is patinated, or has sharp angles.

Sotheby's is your best resource to sell contemporary African paintings, sculpture and photography.

At AfricartMarket, we are leaders and experts in the African art market. Our art evaluation process is anonymous and confidential, guaranteeing you a minimum 25% increase in the value of your object. Our independent experts are not allowed to buy your objects or know your identity when they make their appraisal.

Appraisals & Appraisers

Consider finding an appraiser to determine the value of your artwork. Appraisers are trained specialists who work for a fee. They evaluate your piece and give you a written statement of its value.

Often the work of blacksmiths who work on soft woods, African statuary includes statues of ancestors, dolls, statuettes of twins. All these statues offer geometric forms with angular contours, elongated features, sometimes with a severe expression.

Art experts use several different methods to authenticate art, the most important and common being provenance or the documented ownership history. Establishing provenance can be done in a variety of ways, including: A signed certificate or statement of authenticity from a respected authority or expert on the artist.

Among these are innovation of form—i.e., the concern on the part of the African artist with innovation and creativity; visual abstraction and conventionalization; a visual combination of balanced composition and asymmetry; the primacy of sculpture; the transformation and adornment of the human body; and a general ...

African and Oceanic Sculpture Consignment

Sotheby's is the only auction house to hold regular African and Oceanic auctions throughout the year in our two principal selling locations: New York in May and November and Paris in June and December.

Where is the best place to sell sculptures? ›

Whether you own a marble bust, a contemporary metal sculpture, or a bronze equestrian statue, Sotheby's auctions offer you the best opportunity to realise the highest price for your sculpture.

The market for work by Black American artists grew by nearly 400% between 2008 and 2021, according to a recent report from art market website ArtNet. However, art in that category represented just 1.9%, or $3.6 billion, of global auction sales between 2008 and mid-2022, the report found.

Thus, some African art has value as entertainment; some has political or ideological significance; some is instrumental in a ritual context; and some has aesthetic value in itself. More often than not, a work of African art combines several or all of these elements.

For decades, there has been a consensus around authenticity for African art: a genuine object is one that was made by a “traditional” artist for a “traditional” use and was used to fulfill its intended purpose.

A recent report from the London-based art market research firm ArtTactic has revealed that global auction sales for Modern and contemporary African art contracted by 8.4% in 2023.

Art valuation is the process of unlocking the unique cultural and financial value of an artwork. By taking into account its historical, aesthetic, and social context, you can determine a fair and equitable price for the artwork that reflects its true worth.