A brief history of Collecting African Art

www.douglasyaney.com A brief history of Collecting African Art - Douglas Yaney Gallery

Douglas Yaney Gallery Main page African Art Haitian Art Pre-Columbian Art Contact us Mailing list Policy page Links Douglas Yaney e-mail: africanart@douglasyaney.com e-mail: dougyaney@mindspring.com	Douglas Yaney Art Gallery since 1994 Authentic Antique African Tribal Art	AFRICAN TRIBES (search) Aku Asante, Ashanti Baga Baka Bamana Bamileke Bamum Bassa Baule, Baoule Bena Lulua, Lulua Bidjogo Bobo Bongo Borana Chokwe, Jokwe, Tshokwe Dan Dan - Bassa Giryama Guro Gurunsi Hemba Ibo, Igbo Jokwe, Chokwe, Tshokwe Kissi Kikuyu Kongo Kuba Lega Limba Lobi Loko Luba Luba - Songye Luba -Songe Luba - Zella Lulua, Bena Lulua Makonde Makua Maasai, Masai Mende Mossi Ngbaka Nupe Nyankole, Nyancore, Nkole, Nkore, Ankole, Ankore Paeda Pende Pokot Rendille Senufo Sherbro Songe, Songye Songhay Songye - Luba Sukuma Temne Tshokwe, Chokwe, Jokwe Turkana Unidentified Wobe Yaka Yoruba OTHER CATEGORIES Apparel Bowls, Containers & Bags Cooking & Medicine Utensils Drums & Musical Instruments Figures Game Boards Jewelry Masks Neck Rests Puppets Staffs, walking sticks, canes Stools Weaving Materials Weapons
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	Collecting African Art African art was originally collected by Western explorers and slave traders because nothing quite like it had been seen before. The objects were usually regarded as curiosities with no particular artistic value. In time, many pieces made their way into various European museums as trophies of conquest through war and religious conversion. Eventually African art was discovered by artists such as Picasso, Matisse, Giacometti and Braque who started incorporating the unusual geometric lines and shapes into their own work, resulting in what was becoming known as “cubism”. Along with the success of these and other European artists came the validation of the African art itself. As original African objects found their way out of collections and into the influential auction houses, the prices and status of these extraordinary antique African works started rising dramatically. Of course the original creators were simply making functional, yet powerful masks, statues and other items to be used in their daily life in the village. It is doubtful these men had any sense of how they were affecting European art. Authentic antique African art has increasingly become an excellent investment to the collector because unlike other investments, the value is rarely diminished. I wrote the above article in 1998 and it was published in Debrett's Wealth of Asia magazine. Douglas Yaney *********** Today in 2010 investment in good quality African art is even more important. Unlike other investments that we have all seen vanish into thin air recently, African art is something we can actually hold in our hands. We can feel the smooth patina of wood that has been handled by many hands in the past. We can admire and enjoy its beauty for as long as we have it in our care. My advice is to always buy what you like....that piece or style that catches your eye for one reason or another. This way you can never go wrong.