By Carter B. Horsley
The cover illustration of the catalogue for the November 14, 2008 auction of African and Oceanic Art from the collection of Robert and Jean Shoenberg is Lot 82, a 58-inch-high wood sculpture of a standing female holding a flying fish and another fish whose tail joins the head of the larger fish biting the lower jaw of the figure. A snake or a fish emanates from the figure's sex and is joined to the feet and a large shark on the figure's back is joined to a long slender fish projecting above the head. The head is surmounted by a hermit crab with spiral shell. The catalogue notes that this figure is "very similar to, and it is tempting to think it might be the pair to a male figure in the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum fur Volkerkunde in Cologne. The lot has a modest estimate of $50,000 to $80,000. It sold for $206,500 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.
Of the 82 lots offered for sale in this auction, 65 sold for $1,070,875.
Tim Teuten, Christie's specialist in this department, said after the auction that "In a selective market, the finest items in this collection attracted very strong competition notably from European buyers indicating the continuing strength of the market for fine and rare works."
Lot 28 is a "fine" Bete mask from the Ivory Coast that is 12 1/4 inches high. It has an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000. It failed to sell.
The catalogue entry for his lot provides the following commentary:
"Bete and Nyabwa masks with male features are characterized by a geometric rendering of shapes that amounts to stylization. Here this includes the hypertrophy of the nostrils and the reduction to the level of a visor of the horizontal tusks, which are extremely flattened, their ends attached to the extended forehead above the eyes. This mask is large and very heavy, like We masks. Its inner surface is deeply hollowed and has two openings that permit the wearer a limited field of vision. Leaning on a high staff, the mask wearer is guided by the voice of his attendants. The main attendant carries a lance, a symbol of the mask's original role. And sometimes the mask wearer himself carries a lance."
Lot 42 is a fine Fang male reliquary figure that is 15 1/4 inches high that is standing an holding a rectangular object against the abdomen. The coiffure is in three incised ridges sweeping backwards and the spine has nine vertical grooves. It has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $338,500. It was once in the collection of Julius Carlebach.
Lot 60 is a fine Lega ivory figure that is 6 1/2 inches high. It has an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000. It sold for $10,000.
Lot 61 is a "fine" Lega ivory mask from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is 8 inches high and was once in the collection of Julius Carlebach. It has an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000. It sold for $22,500.
Lot 73 is a "fine" Papuan Gulf figure, 37 1/2 inches high, from the Wapo Creek or Era River area of New Guinea. It has a modest estimate of $8,000 to $12,000. It sold for $52,500. It was once in the collection of Julius Carlebach.
Lot 68 is a nice carved wood Asmat panel from Irian Jaya, New Guinea. It is 40 1/2 inches long. It has an modest estimate of $1,000 to $1,500. It did not sell.
Lot 6 is a striking Senufo mask that employes white panels. It was once in the collection of Julius Carlebach. It has an estimate of $2,000 to $3,000. It sold for $2,750.
Lot 16 is a "fine" Bambara dance headdress that is 12 3/4 inches high and was once in the collection of Julius Carlebach of New York. It is carved as an aardvark surmounted by a stylized armadillo. It has a modest estimate of $8,000 to $12,000. It sold for $23,750.
Lot 21 is an imposing Dogon mask that is 17 inches high and was once in the collection of the Lemaire Gallery in Amsterdam. It has an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 56 isa "fine" wooden Kuba cup from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is 10 1/8 inches high and was once in the collection of Julius Carlebach of New York. It has a modest estimate of $10,000 to $15,000. It sold for $10,000.
Lot 78 is a very handsome canoe ornament from Sepik, New Guinea. Itis64 1/4 inches high. The large palm spath panel has a central wood spine and a mask i high relief terminating in a bird's head at the top. It has a modest estimate of $2,000 to $3,000. It failed to sell.