The Facts
On September 9, 2026, Lempertz announced a white glove auction of traditional African art from the collection of Jean-Jacques Rotthier, held jointly with Artcurial in Paris on September 8, 2026. Every one of the lots sold, with total proceeds reaching €2.1 million—tripling the overall pre-sale estimate. A Songye figure led the sale, achieving €284,000 against an estimate of €50,000, while another Songye figure from the same collection realized €132,000 from a €40,000 estimate. The auction was conducted by Lempertz experts Bernard de Grunne and Jan Joris Visser, with previews held in Brussels and Paris.
The Signal
The white glove result underscores robust demand for high-quality African art, particularly from distinguished European collections. The sale's timing coincided with the opening of Parcours des Mondes, a major tribal art fair in Paris's Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, which drew international collectors and dealers. The collaboration between Lempertz and Artcurial, two established houses with complementary strengths, signals a strategic consolidation in the market for African and Oceanic art, offering collectors access to curated, museum-quality consignments.
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- People: Jean-Jacques Rotthier, Bernard de Grunne, Jan Joris Visser, Jan Bykowski
- Auction Houses: Lempertz, Artcurial
- Locations: Paris, Brussels
- Prices: €284,000, €132,000, €2.1 million, €50,000, €40,000
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