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December2010MIAMIVOLUME112www.arttribalnews.comMaINSIGHTmrketIsightutureffirsreviewsegFrotiterviewsobjetsdsArtTribalNewsletterLLC2010AllinformationandimagesincludedarepropertyofArtTribalNewsletterLLCandshallnotbereproducedorusedinanywaywithouttheproperexpressedwrittenconsent.450AmsterdamAv2NNewYorkNY10024-Phone1888832-9285OnNovember30th2010SothebysPariswilloffer49exceptionalAfricanArtlotsfromaNewYorkCollection.Lot27AMAGNIFICENTFANGHEADGABONbelowthatwaspartoftheprestigiouscollectionsoldatauctiononthe9thofNovember1965inParisAnciennecollectionPaulGuillaume-ArtNgrehtelDrouot.whichboastsapre-saleestimateof500000-700000EUR682299-955219.Anotherimportantobjecttowatchislot33ARAREANDIMPORTANTMUMUYEFIGURENIGERIArightwithapre-saleestimateof180000-250000EUR245627-341149Immediatelyfollowingtherewillbeasaleconsistingof103lotsofAfricanandOceanicmaterial.ANewYorkColleCtioNIstartedcollectinginthelate1970s.WhatdrewmetoAfricanartIthinkwasaloveofthematerialwoodswithsmoothorweatheredsurfacesrichdarkpatinasimagesthatweresometimesbeautifulidealizedportraitsbutothertimesintenselyexpressionisticimagesthatchallengedtheimaginationandinvitedinvestigationofanotheraestheticuniversethathadinfluencedthemostimportantEuropeanartistsearlierinthecentury.InNewYorkinthosedaystheplacestoseeAfricanartwereclusteredaround57thSt.andalongMadisonAvenuenorthtowardstheMetropolitanMuseumofArtwhichhadnotyetopeneditsMichaelC.RockefellerWingfortheartofAfricaOceaniaandtheAmericas.SimilarlytheMuseumforAfricanArtwasafewyearsinthefuture.AnamateurofAfricanartthereforedependedontheprivategalleriesanddealerswhoaboundedinthecity.PacePrimitivealmostalwayshadacataloguedexhibitionornewlyarrivedmaterialtoshowandonacrispautumnSaturdayIwouldheadtotheirspacethenasnowonEast57thSt.ItbustledwithactivityvisitednotonlybyAfricancollectorsbutalsobyartistsandcollectorsofmodernandcontemporaryartlookingforaprovocativepieceoftribalartandoftenescortedbyArneGlimcherhimself.BryceHolcombethedirectorwasacharacterandraconteuranditwaseasytopassanentiremorninginhiscompanywhilehepulledoutwonderfulobjectsforconsiderationlikethedelicateSenufohornbillmask.FromtheexhilarationofPaceIheadedacrossthestreettothequieterprecinctsoftheFullerBuildingandGastondeHavenonsgallery.Theever-charmingdeHavenonhadendlessstoriesofParisandtheamazingcollectionhehadamassedwhiletravellingtoFranceonbusinessinthe1950sand1960s.Hewasalwaysgenerouswithhistimeandencouragedmyinterest.ThesmallKongofetishandastonishingGuromaskwithstandingfigurethatoncebelongedtoLouisCarrecamefromthosevisitstodeHavenonsgallery.WalkingnorthonMadisonAvenuetheeducationwouldcontinueattheoldParkeBernetGalleryiftherehappenedtobeasaleexhibitionoratFreddieRolinsstorefrontgallerynear78thStreet.OnaslowdaythearistocraticownerorhisstaffwouldtakemetothedownstairsstoreroomtoengageinsomebasementarchaeologyspendinghoursdiggingaroundtreasuresIdidnotyetfullyappreciate.Ilearned.TherewerelargeLubaandHembaancestorfiguresanamazingKongodogfetishmasksfromZaireivoriesfromNigeria.ThisiswhereIdiscoveredtheelegantlyattenuatedMumuyefigurethePicasso-esqueNgbakaspoontheUrhoboshrinethatoncebelongedtoArmanwhoIoftensawinthegallery--andthestrongandbeautifulPendemask.Thesearethekindsofobjectsyoucouldfindinthosedaysatpricesabeginningcollectorcouldafford.OnedaycheckingoutRolinswalk-insafeatthebackofthegalleryIdiscoveredandimmediatelyboughtalate7thcenturyIndianGuptabronzeBuddhawhichtodayisownedjointlybytheVictoriaandAlbertandBritishmuseums.NearbywasCMArtswhereblue-chippostwarartworksandmuseum-qualityexhibitionsforartistslikeJacksonPollockanddeKooningsharedspacewithahandfulofmasterworksofAfricanartlikethearchaicDjennenkeancestorfigurewhichremindsmeofabustofaGothickingorsaintfromtheperiod.FurtherupMadisonHeleneandPhilippeLelouphadestablishedaNewYorkgallerywhereIspentmanyenjoyablehoursinconversationwiththiswonderfulcouplewhobecamementorsanddearfriends.ItwasthereIfoundtreasuresliketheSongyeshieldandtherareOwoivorybowl.AcrossthestreetMertonSimpsonheldcourtinhismasterpiece-ladengallery.InthesidestreetsoffMadisoncouldbefoundotherimportantdealersfromAmericaandEuropewhowouldshowgreatobjectsinsmallgalleriesprivateapartmentsorhotelrooms.ItwasagoldenageforlookingatandbuyingAfricanartinNewYork.SOTHEBYSOFFERSanEWYORKcOllEcTIOnInpaRISimagecourtesyofSothebys