Africa

A funerary statue from Cyrene (near present-day Shahhat in Libya) dating to the 2nd century BC is being returned to Libya.

A new fair director in London, a promotion at Bonhams US and a new auction location in South Africa - here is a round-up of the latest moves.

A Mannerist bronze discovered in a box of bric-a-brac at an auction in South Africa is to be offered at Christie’s in London this week.

Paris auction house Artcurial is opening an office in Morocco. Launching a permanent subsidiary in Marrakesh, the firm will now start holding regular sales at the famous La Mamounia hotel in the city from December this year.

Two private collections of South African art have yielded works by some of the leading names in the market to Strauss’ sale in Cape Town on March 18.

Today marks World Book Day, and while the occasion is aimed at young people, it could also be a chance for rare book collectors to take stock of their libraries and investigate some top lots in store at future auctions.

A portrait of an old man attributed to Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) has emerged at South African saleroom Stephan Welz & Co.

Sotheby’s is involved in a court case surrounding the dating of a bronze sold at auction two years ago.

A signed copy of the South African classic, ‘Jock of the Bushveld’ by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, with an inscription describing it as “the first copy” of the book is being offered in an online sale ending this week.

A new auction house has been set up in South Africa. Aspire Art Auctions will hold their inaugural sale in Johannesburg on October 31.

South African auction house Strauss & Co have made a number of appointments to its board in the wake of the death of founding managing director, Stephan Welz at the end of last year.

Auction reports from Nigeria don’t tend to feature too much in ATG, but maybe that could change thanks to the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers (NAVA).