Sidney and Bernice Clyman – African Art collection

There are many ways to collect ancient and historical pieces of art. One of the most famous ways to collect art pieces and show off your wealth is to go to an auction house.

Auction houses not only have the most unique collection of items but it is also a place where an individual can feel the thrill of competing against others to purchase any item. Due to the progress of online activities auctions managed to make its way to the online market.

Sotheby’s is one of the largest and fourth oldest auction companies in the world. With the website “www.sothebys.com” anyone can have the experience of joining the online auction hosted by Sotheby’s and browse through their exciting collection of art pieces.

On 30 June 2020 9:30 AM EDT African Art from the collection of Sidney and Bernice Clyman was auctioned at Sotheby’s website. Sidney and Bernice Clyman are art collectors. Their art collection adventure started as clients of the renowned dealer Gaston de Havenon in the 1970’s. They began when the market for collecting African art had emerged in America.

The African Art from the Collection of Sidney and Bernice Clyman is considered one of the finest collections of African Art in the world. It is also one of the last remaining collections from the generation of postwar collecting in the US during the 1960s and 1970s. The art collection featured 32 sculptures.

Source: African Art from the Collection of Sidney and Bernice Clyman 30 June 2020 New York https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/african-art-from-the-collection-of-sidney-and-bernice-clyman?locale=en

There were 32 lots from the African Art collection that were sold in the auction. The name and the biding price of the lots are shown below:

  1. ASANTE CHILD FIGURE, GHANA
    Estimated: 6,000-9,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 11,875 USD
  2. AKAN-TWIFO MEMORIAL HEAD, TWIFO HEMANG TRADITIONAL AREA, GHANA
    Estimated: 5,000-7,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 6,250 USD
  3. BAMANA ZOOMORPHIC HEADDRESS, MALI
    Estimated: 50,000-70,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 41,250 USD
  4. DAN MASK, COTE D’IVOIRE
    Estimated: 7,000-10,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 12,500 USD
  5. SENUFO COUPLE, COTE D’IVOIRE
    Estimated: 100,000-150,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 262,500 USD
  6. BAULE ZOOMORPHIC FIGURE, COTE D’IVOIRE
    Estimated: 70,000-100,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 125,000 USD
  7. BAULE FEMALE FEAGURE, COTE D’IVOIRE
    Estimated: 10,000-25,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 23,750 USD
  8. BAMANA HEADDRESS, MALI
    Estimated: 12.000-18,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 32,500 USD
  9. OGON MATURNITY FIGURE, MALI
    Estimated: 40,000-60,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 43,750USD
  10. MIDDLE NIGER CIVILIZATION SEATED MALE FIGURE, MALI, 12TH TO 14TH CENTURY
    Estimated: 250,000-350,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 412,500 USD
  11. DOGON EQUESTRIAN FIGURE, MALI
    Estimated: 60,000-90,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 93,750 USD
  12. OGON DOOR SHUTTER, MALI
    Estimated: 10,000-15,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 26,500 USD
  13. DOGON LADDR, MALI
    Estimated: 1,000-1,500 USD
    Lot Sold: 5,250 USD
  14. MIDDLE NIGER CIVILIZATION FIGURE OF A BUFFLO, MALI
    Estimated: 100,000-150,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 100,000 USD
  15. MAHONGWE RELIQUARY FIGURE, GABON
    Estimated: 500,000-700,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 1,400,000 USD
  16. FANG ANCESTOR, GABON
    Estimated: 250,000-350,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 475,000 USD
  17. KOTA-OBAMBA RELIQUARY FIGURE BY THE SEBE RIVE MASTER OF THE SKULL HEAD
    Estimated: 500,000-700,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 560,000 USD
  18. PUNU FIGURE, GABON
    Estimated: 20,000-30,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 21,250 USD
  19. SANGO RELIQUARY FIGURE, GABON
    Estimated: 20,000-30,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 87,500 USD
  20. PENDE MASK, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
    Estimated: 15,000-25,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 56,250 USD
  21. SONGYE MASK, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
    Estimated: 70,000-100,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 75,000 USD
  22. SONGYE COMMUNITY POWER FIGURE, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
    Estimated: 60,000-90,000 USD
    Lot Sold: Unknown
  23. SONGYE POWER FIGURE, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
    Estimated: 12,000-18,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 27,500 USD
  24. SONGYE CARYATID STOOL, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
    Estimated: 20,000-30,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 50,000 USD
  25. YORUBA DIVINATION BOWL, NIGERIA
    Estimated: 10,000-15,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 8,750 USD
  26. BAMILEKE-BATIE FIGURE, CAMEROON
    Estimated: 30,000-50,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 87,500 USD
  27. FANG-MABEA ANCESTOR FIGURE, CAMEROON
    Estimated: 200,000-300,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 325,000 USD
  28. JUKUN ANCESTOR FIGURE, BENUE RIVER VALLEY, NIGERIA
    Estimated: 60,000-90,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 115,750 USD
  29. MUMUE ANCESTOR FIGURE, NIGERIA
    Estimated: 8,000-12,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 56,250 USD
  30. ELOYI (AFO) MATERNITY FIGURE, BENUE VALLEY, NIGERIA
    Estimated: 10,000-15,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 47,500 USD
  31. PAIR OF YORUBA TWIN GIGURES, NIGERIA
    Estimated: 1,000-1,500 USD
    Lot Sold: 3,750 USD
  32. THE AFRICAN ART LIBRARY
    Estimated: 4,000-6,000 USD
    Lot Sold: 3,750 USD

The FANG ANCESTOR FIGURE from GABON was one of the best-sold items among the 32 lots from the African Art collection. The estimated value of this individual piece was about 250,000-350,000 USD where it was sold with an astonishing price of 475,000 USD. This piece was exhibited in different museums.

Source: Sotheby’s

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/african-art-from-the-collection-of-sidney-and-bernice-clyman?locale=en

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/african-art-from-the-collection-of-sidney-and-bernice-clyman/fang-ancestor-figure-gabon

Inspiration by artist Bennu. Creativity without formulas