Tribal Art - Zemanek-Munster Tribal Arts Auction struggles

According to Web sources, the most recent Zemanek-Munster tribal art auction, held twice a year, attracted a disappointing response.

As a result, the auctioneer has initiated an aftersale to move unsold lots.

For example, this is lot 138, a heddle pulley

Baule - shaped corpus with incised ornaments, front and backside carved with a buffalo head, bobbin missing, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion, on wooden plate

Price: 750 €

Or this example, lot 111, a stool

Gurunsi, Burkina Faso - light brown wood, spotty patina, of simple form, four strong legs supporting a nearly rectangular, slightly hollowed seat, min. dam., signs of usage and abrasion

Price: 300 €

Or this, lot 92, ape mask "ngon"

Bamana, Mali - wood, shiny blackish brown patina, of oval form, a slightly protruding forehead, open worked eyes in round cavities, flanking a triangular, slightly raised nose with drilled nostrils, a broad opened mouth underneath, framed by ears with drilled holes, pierced around the rim, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion, fissures; worn by the initiates of the "koré" society. They used animal masks, thus illustrating the relationship of humans with their own animalistic features.

Price: 2500 €

You can view these and some 258 other lots at Zemanek-Munster's web site. Or see similar items of African and Oceanic tribal art at TribalWorks .

Tribal Art - Sotheby's auction - The Sculptor's Eye

Courtesy of Antique News, we learn that Sotheby's New York has scheduled a major auction of tribal art from the Gross collection of African and Oceanic Art.

May 15, 2009 is the date.

The collection was amassed by Chaim and Renee Gross during the 1940s and 1950s.

For more information, visit www.sothebys.com.