LONDON.- Bonhams Africa Now 121-lot sale achieved an impressive £1,802,625 in London yesterday, 4 October. The sale offered a significant collection of works by Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu. His painting, Tutu, 1974, the second rediscovered portrait of Enwonwu’s famous sitter, the Ife royal, Princess Adetutu Ademiluyi, led the sale, selling for an impressive £320,750.
Nine of the top ten lots were by Ben Enwonwu, while works by Congolese artists Freddy Tsimba and Patrick Bongoy also performed well. Tsimba’s Centre fermé, rêve ouvert, achieved £12,500 and Patrick Bongoy’s, Revenants III, sold for £12,500.
The proceeds of the Congolese works were donated to the Malaika Foundation, a charity founded by the supermodel and philanthropist Noella Coursaris Musunka to empower Congolese girls and their communities; and AMADE, which provides help for vulnerable children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. AMADE is supported by Her Royal Highness Caroline, The Princess of Hanover.
Other top lots include:
• Rhapsody in Blue, by Ben Enwonwu sold for £112,500 (estimate £60,000-90,000).
• Enwonwu’s Ogolo, signed and dated 1992 sold for £112,500 (estimate £100,000-150,000).
• Leonce Raphael Agbodjelou (Benin, born 1965) Untitled triptych, ‘Demoiselles de Porto-Novo' series more than doubled its estimate and sold for £37,500 (estimate £12,000 - 18,000).
• Demas Nwoko’s Rickshaw Ride, sold for £81,250. (estimate £60,000-90,000).
• Works by Aboudia Abdoulaye Diarrassouba, performed well with Untitled, 2016, achieving £ 25,000 (estimate £10,000-15,000) and 'Gri Gri II' (2016) £32,500 (estimate £18,000-25,000).
Bonhams Director of Modern African Art, Giles Peppiatt said ‘We are delighted with the result of the Africa Now Sale. African art continues to make waves throughout the art market and Bonhams remains at the forefront of selling works by these brilliant artists. I was pleased that the Africa Now Sale has helped to support two incredible charities; the Malaika Foundation and AMADE, and that the two presidents, Noella Coursaris Musunka and Her Royal Highness, Princess Caroline came to Bonhams to lend their support.’
