Standing 2ft 6in (75cm) tall, the figure group was offered by Bryan Reeves, organiser of the fair, for £8500. It had come from a UK private collection.
The 12th staging of the event ran from September 4-7 at the Mall Galleries in central London, It hosted more than 20 international dealers who offered African, Oceanic and South American works at prices ranging from the low hundreds of pounds to more than £20,000.
It is among the largest events of its type in the UK and is an opportunity for buyers to search out key pieces before larger tribal art events that occur later in the year on the continent.
First-time exhibitor Monika Wengraf-Hewitt reported selling a bone pendant ikoko for £7000 while Kezhia Orege sold a Warka mask from Mali to some UK clients for £1000.
Dutch dealer Finette Lemaire said: “Sales have mainly been to new customers, all from the UK. People have been buying textiles and basketry, which are not so popular in Holland.”
A new UK client snapped up a ceramic beer vessel from Marcuson & Hall for a four-figure sum. Frans Faber, meanwhile, sold some Asmat axes from West Papua New Guinea to an English woman who only collects stone axes.
