Christies-New-York at African Antiques

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Christie's New York

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Christies NYC 23 May 1997 Pre-Columbian Art Rockefeller Center New York 1837

20 Rockefeller Plaza, New York

Christie's Calendar

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Sale 1278, Lot 64
An Important Benin Bronze Plaque, 16th century
Estimate: $180,000-220,000 sold for 500,000$

The Russell B. Aitken Collection
Of African, American Indian & Oceanic Art

Found at: http://www.christies.com/promos/apr03/1278/overview.asp

> up to Benin-Bronze > go to Nigeria tribes

Sale 1278 3 April 2003, 10:00 am
20 Rockefeller Plaza, New York. It was a very successful auction.

Following an absence from Christie's New York auction calendar, tribal art made a comeback this spring with an offering of rare and exquisite pieces from the legendary collection of Russell B. Aitken (1910-2002), the renowned ceramic artist, journalist and hunter.

The small but very fine collection sold at huge prices to the crowded room in the Rockefeller Plaza.

Long hidden from the public eye, many of the objects were featured in various art publications and exhibited at a number of museums such as the Brooklyn Museum and the Museum of Modern Art, both in New York.

Of note is an important plaque depicting an oba (monarch)—perhaps the great warrior king Esigie—that would have once adorned the palace in Benin City (lot 64). The well-known British collector Augustus Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers, impressed with this plaque, published three different views of the piece in his book, Antique Works of Art from the City of Benin.

Further important objects include a superb Fang male reliquary figure (lot 69) and a Yoruba horse and rider (lot 58).

Also featured are a superb Bambara antelope dance headdress (lot 52), several Masai and Kikuyu shields, many of which were acquired on Aitken's numerous safari trips.

A selection of American Indian art is highlighted by a fine Northwest Chief's ceremonial wood rattle (lot 29).

Please visit Christie's picture gallery to view highlights of this sale.

Browse the catalogue to view the entire sale

Read more about the Aitken Collection.

Also read an essay by Louis Perrois, Fang and Kota, The Great Sculptural Traditions of Equatorial Africa.

View other property from the Aitken Collection sold at Christie's (sales 1319 and 1320).