Auction 1263 on Wednesday 26th February 2025 in Brussels
African and Oceanic Art
The sale of African and Oceanic Art will open the auction year at Lempertz in Brussels. This catalogue features a carefully curated selection of outstanding objects. Special pieces include a Nkisi Nkondi from the Congo and an ‘Uli’ figure from New Ireland in Papua New Guinea, a museum-quality highlight from the South Seas.
The spectacular Nkisi Nkondi figure, also known as a nail fetish, comes from the Congo. These power figures play a complex role within the social organisation of the peoples in the Congo estuary region. Such a figure is regarded as the vessel of a superior spiritual authority. It can be invoked in the event of illness, but also fulfils a kind of notarial function, and comes into play during the making of agreements and the swearing of oaths or even vows for revenge, helping to reinforce them. Each request is symbolised by a nail that is hammered into the figure. A cavity holds healing substances in cases where the Nkisi figure is invoked to help with illness. The figure changes and develops through use. The example up for auction at Lempertz dates from the 19th century. Its condition is essentially determined by the traces of its ritual usage, which makes it an outstanding example of a Nkisi Nkondi figurine.

One particular highlight from the Oceanic region is an Uli figure from New Ireland, formerly the Bismarck Archipelago. Uli figurines play a role in many ceremonial occasions, especially in extensive commemorations of the dead, which sometimes last several years. The elaborate Uli figures were kept and also brought to the celebrations of neighbouring tribes. Customs in the region changed at the beginning of the 20th century, meaning that Europeans only had the opportunity to encounter and collect Uli figurines for a short period of time. Nevertheless, their influence on the Expressionist movement in Europe, for example, was considerable.

The example in this auction dates from the 19th century. This figure formerly belonged to the collection of Captain Karl Nauer. Nauer, who was born in Obergünzburg in the Allgäu region, worked for North German Lloyd in the South Seas. The ‘South Sea Museum’ in his home town, which opened in 2009, can be traced back to his collecting activities. Other objects from Nauer's collection can be found today in the GRASSI Museum in Leipzig, the Linden Museum in Stuttgart and the Museum Fünf Kontinente in Munich.

This large guardian figure was made by the Bahau people from the Mahakam river area on the island of Borneo. Such figures were placed around villages or sacred places to protect them from evil influences. The example in the Lempertz auction dates from the 18th to 19th century and was acquired locally in Borneo in 1980.
Together with these figures, a total of 84 lots will be auctioned at Lempertz in Brussels.
Contact
I would be happy to answer any questions and provide print-ready images.
With kind regards,
Jan Bykowski
Press and Public Relations
info@lempertz.com
Tel. 0221 925729 -57
Auction Dates
Auction 1263 - Art of Africa, The Pacific and the Americas

Auction
Grote Hertstraat 6,
Rue du Grand Cerf
1000 Bruxelles
Wednesday 26 February 2025
2 pm
Preview
6 Rue du Grand Cerf
Vernissage | Thursday 20 February, 6 pm
Friday 21 - Saturday 22 February, 10 am - 6 pm
Sunday 23 February, 11 am - 5 pm
Monday 24 - Tuesday 25 February, 10 am - 6 pm
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COLOGNE
Selected works
Saturday, February 1 | 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday, February 2 | 11 am - 4 pm
Monday 3rd to Thursday 6th February | 10 am - 5:30 pm