Tips to Determine African Art Value & 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 emery paper). Is the style coherent with others, compare it with similar pieces in museums collections.

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. When the piece is published in a book or catalogue it is worth more, certainly if the piece was published a few time in famous exhibitions catalogs.

Fashion. Currently the fashion is for the aesthetics and decorative aspect of a piece with a shiny aspect. Some collectors of modern art are more interested in the forms than in original patina and quality.

Conservation state: too much restoration decreases the value.

Provenance, where did it come from?

Size does matter, most pieces are 40/50 cm. Bigger pieces go for more money, even of same quality.

Auction prices and results matter, so do exhibitions. Some tribes are more valuable especially when there's a record auction price.

Is it fresh on the market and from a Tribe with small production.

And last but not least the seller. A well known gallery or collector, may ask more than an unknown seller because they have more knowledge. However, if you buy from a well known source you also have much better chance for authentic quality African art.


The above information reprinted courtesy of a long gone African Antique dealer.
A link to the source is no longer available.


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