Back in March of last year, South African artist Irma Stern’s “Arab Priest” exceeded all expectations when it sold for $4.94m. Her “Pink Sari,” painted in 1947 during a trip to Zanzibar, isn’t expected to eclipse that record at Bonhams sale of South African art next month in London. All the same, the portrait, never before seen on the open market, is anticipated to command a substantial $1.27m-$1.9m.The painting includes a frame of original Zanzibar woodwork, an indication of Stern’s own opinion of the work. Intimately involved in every aspect of producing a painting, from stretching the canvas to making the frame, Stern reserved the rare wood she’d brought back from Zanzibar for works she considered the very best. The auction market last saw a major painting by Stern last October, when Bonhams sold “Watussi Woman” (1942) in London for $1.85m.
Irma Stern’s “Pink Sari” Will Be Auctioned
February 07, 2012
Tribal Rarities At Paris Sale
December 12, 2011The Fang are a people living in Equatorial New Guinea, Congo, and Gabon, where the rare 19th century mask originated that’s featured in Christie’s African & Oceanic Art auction in Paris tomorrow. The Fang used this one in their N’Gil magic ceremony, whose purpose was to rout out sorcerers. Christie’s hopes to conjure $798,804-$1.06m for the wooden mask.
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Rising Value of Unrestored Cars
By Malcolm Welford, Vintage Car Specialist
