Art d'Afrique, d'Océanie et d'Amérique du Nord

Christie’s Paris’ African, Oceanic and American Indian art sale achieved €11,565,175 / £8,211,274 / $12,952,996 with strong sell-through rates of 78% by lot, 96% by value and 45% of the lots selling above high presale estimates. Leading the auction was the highly anticipated William Rubin Kota, a work epitomizing the links between African and Modern Art, in the great tradition perfected by the celebrated William Rubin, art historian and Director of Painting and Sculpture at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Collectors paid an honorable tribute to this iconic Kota sculpture, as it reached €5,473,500 / £3,886,185 / $6,130,320, making this work the most valuable work of African art ever to be sold at Christie’s France, 2nd most important price achieved for an African work of art sold in France, and 3rd in the world.

Susan Kloman, International head of the department, commented: “Exceptional quality and pristine provenance have attracted an international audience with collectors from 10 different countries, bidding either in person in a full saleroom or via the telephones or the internet with spirited bidding by 6 bidders on the William Rubin Kota. 7 records were set during the sale, including for Baga, Grebo, Kota works, and 70% of the top ten lots were acquired by private collectors”.