Out & About Autumn 2018

worked bangles and a string of prayer beads which made £980; and a collection of mid-19th-century African – mostly Nigerian – leather, straw and rattan work which sold for £260. While pieces such as these provide tremendous cultural and social insights, it is important to be mindful that illicit trading does happen. If you are thinking of collecting, then do buy from a reputable auction house or dealer. There are some objects that are totally banned from sale, for example Benin bronzes – metal plaques and sculptures from what is now Nigeria – therefore it is vital to stay ahead of the current dos and don’ts in this area. It looks likely that the UK government will change the ivory rules very soon and introduce an almost complete ban on the sale of all items made of ivory and of all ages. Currently the ban is only applied to items made after a certain date and with a specified percentage of ivory – we anticipate the changes over the coming months. Although there are certain regulations, this area is still a burgeoning one and due to its growth, we held a Tribal and Ethnographical Valuation Day in August with Oceanic, African, Inuit art expert Tom Hurst. We saw several interesting items and we will doubtless be having an auction solely dedicated to this fascinating area soon.

Two carved African mythical beasts, wooden carved figures modelled as a flightless bird and anthropomorphic dog sold for £260

An ancient carved wooden African game, with 12 circular recesses, a balance toy and various carved figures sold for £12

A West African beadwork cylindrical box sold for £270

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