Lempertz Sets a High Bar in Brussels with Museum-Quality African Art

Two Rarely Seen Private Collections Anchor the “Art of Africa, the Pacific and the Americas” Auction on 31 January in Brussels 

Specialist auctions often reward perseverance more than passion, requiring collectors to search for genuine discoveries. Lempertz’s upcoming auction, “Art of Africa, the Pacific and the Americas,” to be held on 31 January in Brussels, decisively breaks with this pattern. 

The sale brings together two exceptional private collections, both entering the market almost entirely for the first time. Their combined presence results in an offering whose overall quality is unusually consistent, with strong provenance, early collecting histories, and conservative yet market-aware estimates. 

“This is not an auction defined by a few highlight lots,” says Lempertz specialist Jan-Joris Visser. “It is defined by depth. The level remains high from the first lot to the last.”

The Daniele Grassi Collection: Patina, Power, and Early Provenance 

More than half of the nearly 100 lots in the sale come from the Daniele Grassi Collection, assembled over decades by the Italian intellectual, poet, and former European Commission official. Grassi’s collection reflects a connoisseur’s eye for age, use, and sculptural authority, favoring works with pronounced patina over polished perfection. 

The collection’s leading work is a seated Hemba figure from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, estimated at €80,000 (Lot 133).  Despite significant losses to the arms and lower body, the sculpture retains a powerful, introspective presence.

“Collectors today are reappraising works that were once considered ‘too raw,’” notes Visser. “This Hemba figure speaks directly to current taste: authenticity over restoration.” 

Also from the DRC are several Nkisi power figures, long sought after for their ritual intensity and sculptural impact. A 51 cm example carries an estimate of €14,000 (Lot 120), while a smaller Yombe Nkisi, distinguished by its almost naturalistic, youthful expression, is estimated at €3,000( Lot 122), a level likely to attract strong international bidding. 

Beyond Central Africa, the Grassi Collection maintains its standard. Highlights include a rare Dogon N’Duleri figure from Mali (€28,000, Lot 79), animated by a deep, dark facial patina, and a life-size Nomoli stone head from Sierra Leone (€20,000, Lot 65), stylistically dating to the 14th century.

The Rolf Bayer Collection: Quiet German Connoisseurship

Providing a compelling counterbalance is the Rolf Bayer Collection, comprising 19 works assembled by a discreet German collector who acquired primarily through established dealers such as Ludwig Brettschneider and Walter Kaiser.

Leading the group is a Baule divination figure from Côte d’Ivoire, estimated at €60,000 (Lot 25), alongside a dignified Bete maternity figure (€4,000, Lot 20) that embodies ancestral presence and spiritual continuity.

“Bayer represents a collecting model that is increasingly rare,” says Visser. “Measured acquisitions, impeccable sources, and no interest in speculation.”
The collection also includes a woodcut by Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, underscoring the enduring dialogue between African sculpture and European modernism (Lot 11).

Market Signals Beyond the Collections

Among the standalone highlights is an Ejagham headdress mask from Nigeria, estimated at €26,000 (Lot 5). Market comparables suggest significant upside: a similar example recently rose from €10,000 to €130,000 at auction. 

A commanding Senufo figure associated with the Poro society (€18,000, Lot 18) reflects the growing demand for large-scale works tied to historic power structures and ritual authority. 

The sale closes with notable works from the Hemba–Luba tradition, including a Hemba Singiti figure (€25,000, Lot 35) whose elongated facial features recall Modigliani, and early-collected Luba staffs, one acquired around 1900 by a German engineer (€8,000, Lot 39).

A 1.26-meter Luba ceremonial scepter (Lot 40), collected by the Italian jurist Mansueto Moriondo, adds historical depth, connecting African art, colonial history, and early European documentation. 

“This auction is clearly positioned for collectors and institutions who value early provenance and sculptural integrity,” Visserconcludes. “It is a sale built for the long term, not the season.”

Previews:
Cologne 15 – 17 January 2026
Brussels 22 – 30 January 2026, during BRAFA Art Fair

Laura Laurianti M.A.
+49 221 925729-37
laurianti@lempertz.com