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Attributed to Benedict Enwonwu (1917-1994) Africa Dances, 1991
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Details
Signed and dated ‘Ben Enwonwu 1991’ (lower right).
Sizes:
Artwork: 80 × 68.5 cm | 31.5 × 27 in
A line of women dancers sweeps from right to left across the canvas, arms flung back, bodies leaning into the step, their wrappers of deep blue striped with gold swinging with the movement. The nearest figure, with a gold necklace and a tall coiffure, leads the line; behind her the others repeat the gesture and dissolve into the ultramarine ground, so that the picture reads as one movement seen several times over. The floor is a band of ochre laid on with broad horizontal strokes.
The subject and the treatment follow the dance pictures that Ben Enwonwu (1917–1994), the founding figure of Nigerian modernism, painted from the 1950s to the end of his life, among them his best-known series, ‘Africa Dances’. The canvas is signed and dated ‘Ben Enwonwu 1991’ lower right. We catalogue it as attributed to the artist: in our opinion it is probably his work, but there is less certainty than for a work catalogued under his name alone. It is sold with that qualification.
Provenance
Private collection, Nigeria.
Private collection, Spain (2022).
Acquired from the above by the present owner.
Condition Report
Oil on canvas, unlined, on a wooden stretcher with corner keys; a hanging wire is attached to the stretcher. The paint layer is stable overall, with light surface wear and minor rubbing at the edges of the canvas from the stretcher; no losses observed. The reverse of the canvas shows light age staining. Unframed. Please contact us to request a detailed Condition Report.
Shipping
Packed as size L (up to 100 × 80 cm) · 80 × 68.5 cm
- Transport and packing ()
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- Made-to-measure wooden crate (works over 20,000 €)
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€ (the low estimate to start)
- + €
Insurance is optional. It follows the final hammer price, so with insurance the total moves with the bidding. Indicative rates of our shipping partner MBE for packing and door-to-door transport; the final quote is confirmed after the sale. Import duties and taxes outside the EU are paid by the buyer.
We coordinate packing and shipping on your behalf, with insurance available if you’d like it — or you’re welcome to arrange your own. Please see our Shipping Information page for full details before completing your purchase.
Authenticity & Buyer Information
This lot is sold “as is” and “as attributed”. The attribution reflects the opinion of the auction house and is considered final. The sale of this lot is final.
Qualified Attribution
Offered and sold as attributed. See our Conditions of Sale.
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What it costs
Bidding on this site, the buyer’s premium is 25%, Spanish IVA included. There is no VAT on the hammer price and no card fee.
| Starting price | Low estimate | High estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammer price | €2,000 | €3,000 | €5,000 |
| Buyer’s premium 25% (IVA included) | €500 | €750 | €1,250 |
| Total on auroraathena.com | €2,500 | €3,750 | €6,250 |
| Total through a bidding platform (30%) | €2,600 | €3,900 | €6,500 |
Through LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Drouot or Bidspirit the premium is 30%: the same hammer of €5,000 costs €6,500 there against €6,250 here. Shipping and insurance are quoted separately; the estimator below gives the figure for your country. Buyers outside the EU pay no Spanish tax on the lot; the destination’s import rules apply (United States: original paintings and drawings enter duty-free; United Kingdom: 5% import VAT on art). Card payments are accepted up to €10,000; larger amounts by bank transfer.
Questions about this lot
How does the estimate compare with the artist’s recent auction results?
The estimate of €3,000–€5,000 is our opinion of the range this work should reach; the starting price of €2,000 is the lowest bid we accept. We have not published comparable results for this lot; ask us before the sale and we will send the results we based the estimate on.
What will this lot cost in total?
Bidding on this site, the buyer’s premium is 25%, Spanish IVA included, and there is no VAT on the hammer price and no card fee: at the starting price of €2,000 the total is €2,500; at the low estimate of €3,000 the total is €3,750; at the high estimate of €5,000 the total is €6,250.
Through LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Drouot or Bidspirit the premium is 30%, so the same hammer of €5,000 costs €6,500 there. Shipping and insurance are quoted separately; the estimator on this page gives the figure for your country. Buyers outside the EU pay no Spanish tax on the lot; the destination’s import rules apply (United States: original paintings and drawings enter duty-free; United Kingdom: 5% import VAT on art). Card payments are accepted up to €10,000; larger amounts by bank transfer.
How is this lot catalogued?
As “Attr. to”, a qualified attribution: the lot is offered and sold as described under the Conditions of Sale. The estimate reflects that.
Can I see the condition report, more photographs or the work itself?
A condition report with ultraviolet photographs is prepared on request, normally within two working days; the condition summary on this page is examined in-house and is not a conservator’s report. Further photographs of any detail, the reverse or the frame are sent on request. The work can be examined in our Barcelona showroom by appointment before the sale, and you are welcome to send your own conservator or specialist.
How does bidding work, and can a maximum bid make me overpay?
You can leave a maximum bid before the sale (the sale is on Saturday, November 28th - 17:00 (CET)) or bid live in our online room. A maximum bid is executed by the auctioneer only as much as is needed to stay ahead of other bidders, in the sale’s increments, never above your maximum.
Where a reserve exists it never exceeds the low estimate; a lot without a reserve sells to the highest bid at or above the starting price of €2,000.
Is there a limit on how much I can bid?
Every account is approved for bidding as soon as the e-mail address is confirmed, with a limit of €5,000 per bid until the identity is verified. The limit applies everywhere: in the live room, on the lot page and to maximum bids. To bid without a limit, verify your identity in your account on this site: it takes about three minutes on a phone, is done once, and the limit is lifted automatically as soon as the check is complete. Please do it at least an hour before the sale.
Benedict Enwonwu
Ben Enwonwu, a trailblazer in African modern art, is widely recognized for his ability to bridge classical technique with African identity and symbolism. Born in Nigeria in 1917, he rose to prominence as one of the first African artists to gain international acclaim, exhibiting across Europe and the United States at a time when African art was often excluded from the global canon. Trained at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, Enwonwu developed a powerful visual language that combined European modernist influences with indigenous forms, mythology, and cultural memory.
His practice spanned painting, sculpture, and public commissions, including the celebrated bronze of Queen Elizabeth II unveiled in 1957. But it is through his expressive paintings—often rich in movement, color, and spirit—that his legacy continues to grow. His works explore themes of tradition, transformation, and black identity with lyrical intensity. Enwonwu’s art remains foundational to the story of Nigerian modernism, revered for its elegance, complexity, and cultural significance. Today, his name stands as a symbol of postcolonial resilience and artistic brilliance across continents.
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