Lot 10. Rapa ceremonial dance paddle, Easter Islands, toromiro wood, haut. 86 cm. Estimate upon request. © Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s is delighted to announce its forthcoming Oceania sale to be held on 4 December in Paris. This is the first various owners’ sale dedicated exclusively to the arts of Oceania. The 38 lots that comprise this sale have been chosen for their historical importance, remarkable provenance, and rare aesthetic quality. They will be featured in a catalogue that will shine a spotlight on the perspective of the first explorers, collectors, dealers and artists to develop a passion for this field in the early 20th century. Sotheby’s will offer works that previously belonged to James T. Hooper, Stephen Chauvet, Paul Guillaume, Nelson A. Rockefeller, André Breton, Maurice de Vlaminck and Tristan Tzara.

Exceptional Rapa ceremonial dance paddle, Easter Islands

Following the world auction record achieved in 2017 for a work from Easter Island, the sale will offer an exceptional Rapa ceremonial dance paddle with a unique history (lot 10 – estimate upon request). This museum-quality piece has notably been part of the collections of Gustave and Franyo Schindler and Bernard de Grunne, and has been exhibited in prestigious international institutions since the 1960s, first in New York in 1966 at the Museum of Primitive Arts for the exhibition of Masks and sculptures from the Collection of Gustave and Franyo Schindler and, more recently, at the Beyeler Foundation in the famous exhibition La Magie des Images: Africa, Oceania and Modern Art. 

The Rapa corpus is one of the most refined within Pascuan art, bringing the abstraction of the human figure to its apex. The size and shape of this piece make it one of the most classic and significant among known examples.

Lot 10. Rapa ceremonial dance paddle, Easter Islands, toromiro wood, haut. 86 cm. Estimate upon request. © Sotheby’s.

Provenance: John J. Klejman (1906-1995), New York
Collection Gustave (1910-1988) et Franyo (1909-2005) Schindler, New York, acquis ca. 1960
Collection Bill et Ann Ziff, New York, acquis ca. 1998
Bernard de Grunne, Bruxelles
Collection privée, Belgique
Patrick et Ondine Mestdagh, Bruxelles
Collection privée européenne, acquis en 2008.

Exhibited: New York, The Museum of Primitive Arts, Masks and sculptures from the Collection of Gustave et Franyo Schindler, 1966
New York, L&M Gallery, Great Works from Africa and the Pacific, 9 – 17 mai 2008
Bâle, Fondation Beyeler, La Magie des Images. L’Afrique, L’Océanie et l’Art Moderne, 25 janvier – 24 mars 2009
Paris, Monnaie de Paris, Regards de marchands. La passion des arts premiers, 9 septembre – 18 octobre 2009.

Literature: Schindler, Masks and sculptures from the Collection of Gustave et Frennyo Schindler, 1966, n° 43
Grunne (de), Tribal fine Arts, 2008, p. 52, n° 21
Merian Verlag, La Magie des Images. L’Afrique, L’Océanie et l’Art Moderne / Visual Entounters. Africa, Oceania, and Modern Art, 2009, n. p.
Martinez-Jacques et alii, Regards de marchands. La passion des arts premiers, 2009, p. 99.

Six worksfrom the Tristan Tzara collection

It is exceptional to see works from the legendary collection of the founder of the Dada movement, Tristan Tzara, appear on the market – with six works once belonging to this visionary collector offered by Sotheby’s Paris.

Appearing on the market for the first time, this Maori canoe prow of remarkable quality was first exhibited in 1930 (lot 30 – estimate: €100,000- €150,000). The canoe is one of the most emblematic elements of Maori culture, and its importance was attested by the very elaborate carving of the bow and stern. Here, the figure with its tongue sticking out is associated with Marakiaau, the divinity who lures enemy canoes and their crews into the depths.

This historic work, which dates from the end of the Te Puawaitanga era (1500- 1800), exemplifies the highest degree of craftsmanship in Maori art.

Lot 30. Maori canoe prow, New Zealand, wood, long. 110 cm ; 43 3/8 in. Estimate €100,000 - €150,000. © Sotheby’s.

Provenance: Collection Tristan Tzara (1896-1963), Paris
Transmis par descendance.

Exhibited: Paris, Galerie du théâtre Pigalle, Exposition d’art africain et océanien, 28 février – 1 er avril 1930.

Another work exhibited in early 20th century is this superb Kanak figure, which confirms the importance of African and Oceanic arts in the poet's life. It was presented at the Galerie Pigalle in 1930 as part of the famous Exposition d’art africain et océanien (lot 33 – estimate: €60,000-€90,000). Characteristic of Kanak art, this imposing sculpture stands out for its monumentality and power. It is a memorial work and represents a dignitary whose name it bore. It might have been planted near the hut of a deceased chief, beside a path, or in a place marked as forbidden.

Lot 33. Kanak figure, New Caledonia, wood, haut. 50 cm ; 19 5/8 in. Estimate €60,000 - €90,000. © Sotheby’s.

Provenance: Collection Tristan Tzara (1896-1963), Paris
Loudmer, Paris, Arts Primitifs -  Collection Tristan Tzara et à divers amateurs, 24 novembre 1988, n° 165
Collection privée, Paris, acquis lors de cette vente.

Exhibited: Paris, Galerie du théâtre Pigalle, Exposition d’art africain et océanien, 28 février – 1 er avril 1930
Paris, Centre Georges Pompidou, Dada, 5 octobre 2005 – 9 janvier 2006 / Washington, National Gallery of Art, 19 février - 4 mai 2006 / New York, Museum of Modern Art, 18 juin - 11 septembre 2006
Strasbourg, Musée de la ville de Strasbourg, Tristan Tzara. L’homme approximatif, 24 septembre 2015 – 17 janvier 2016.

Literature: Wölfel, « Le style de l’art néo-calédonien » in Cahiers d’Art, 1929, n° 2-3, p. 98, n° 165
Marquetty, Exposition d’art africain et océanien, 1930, p. 26, n° 369
Ades,  Dada and Surrealism, 1978, p. 186, n° 8.80
Dickerman, Dada, 2005, p. 827
Fauchereau, Tristan Tzara. L’homme approximatif, 2015, p. 89
Hourdé et Rolland, Galerie Pigalle Afrique Océanie, 1930. Une exposition mythique, 2018, p. 304, n° 369 et p. 58 et 145 (photographie).

Extremely rare Mortlock mask, Caroline Islands, Micronesia

It is extremely rare to see masks from Micronesia, where the known corpus is extremely small. The only examples found there are tapunau masks, made in the Mortlock Islands, which are distinguished by their austere, pared-back lines (lot 18 – estimate: €250,000-€350,000). The rarity of this mask is compounded by the force of its aesthetics, which create a strikingly modern impression. 

As well as its undeniable artistic qualities, this mask is also important for its rich Western history. It came into the collections of the Liebenzeller Mission Museum before 1914 and tells the story of the many German expeditions that revealed the exceptional creations of these hitherto unknown regions, which exerted an instant fascination on intellectuals and artists. 

Lot 18. Mortlock mask, Caroline Islands, Micronesia, wood, pigment, haut. 50 cm ; 19 11/16 in. Estimate €250,000 - €350,000. © Sotheby’s.

Provenance: The Liebenzeller Mission Museum, avant 1914, n° 5701
Arthur Speyer (1894-1958), Berlin
Transmis par descendance
Ralph Nash, Londres, de 1972 à 1975
Hélène et Henri Kamer, Paris, 1975
Collection Baudouin de Grunne, Bruxelles
Sotheby’s Paris, 3 décembre 2004, n° 18.

Exhibited: Paris, Galerie Kamer,  Qualité, 6 novembre - 13 décembre 1975.

Literature: Galerie Kamer, Paris, Qualité, 1975, p. 112, n° 75.

Malangan figure, New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago

From the former Paul Guillaume collection, this wonderful Malangan figure masterfully testifies to the eye of this collector and dealer who completely changed the way Westerners viewed African and Oceanic art (lot 26 – estimate: €180,000-€250,000). It reflects the major interest and fascination that the art of the Bismarck Archipelago aroused among artists and art enthusiasts in the early 20th century. 

Its Western history responds to the symbolic importance of this work, an archetype of the art of New Ireland. Adopting a classical pose, the figure is impressive due to the sculptural size of the head and the refinement of the ornamentation. Boasting an imposing kapkap, an attribute of clan chiefs, it affirms the power and serenity of the ancestor.

Lot 26. Malangan figure, New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago. Wood/ Coquillages, haut. 91 cm ; 35 7/8 in. Estimate €180,000 - €250,000. © Sotheby’s.

Provenance: Collection Paul Guillaume (1891-1934), Paris
Julius Carlebach, New York, ca. 1960
Collection Paul (1896-1974) et Mary (1902-1986) Wescher, Californie
Sotheby Parke-Bernet, New York, 11 novembre 1968, n° 128
Collection Ted (1911-1979) et Gwendolyn Weiner, Texas, acquis lors de cette vente
Sotheby's, New York, 18 novembre 1997, n° 122
Collection Roger Vanthournout, Belgique, acquis lors de cette vente
Sotheby's, Paris 23 juin 2006, n° 67
Collection privée, Paris, acquis lors de cette vente.

Exhibited: La Jolla, The Art Center in La Jolla,  The collection of Dr and Mrs Paul Wescher, 10 janvier - 16 février 1958.

Literature: Malone,  The collection of Dr and Mrs Paul Wescher, 1958, n. p., n° 11.6
Benhamou-Huet,  Global Collectors ; Collectionneurs du monde, 2008, p. 285
Garnier,  Motifs d'Océanie, 2011, p. 383, n° 554.

Rare Livika drum, New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago

Lastly, a Livika drum belongs to one of the rarest corpora of New Ireland. Today, only 50 or so of these instruments are recorded in museums and private collections (lot 3 – estimate: €120,000-€180,000). Each livika has its own name, which refers to one of the archipelago’s native birds. They were kept hidden from women’s view and were brought out to be played at funerals of prominent clan members and accompanied the vigil. These instruments had a strong symbolic value and brought to life the deceased's voice during ceremonies held in their honour. They were generally destroyed when their owner died.

Lot 3. Livika drum, New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago, wood, haut. 43 cm ; 17 in. E. © Sotheby’s.

Provenance: Collection Karl C. F. Hanssen, acquis ca. 1900
Transmis par descendance
Collection privée américaine
Sotheby's New York, 16 novembre 2001, n° 196
Collection privée européenne, acquis lors de cette vente.