Collector’s Guide for Buying Authentic African Tribal Art

African tribal arts such as original oil paintings, masks, jewellery, pottery and sculptures figure among the most treasured possessions for any art collector. African tribal masks, statues, and even the popular wildlife paintings have an inherent meaning that highlight the culture of Africa and its people.

Most of the original pieces, whether it is a wildlife painting or a mask, signify a part of the every day life of the African people. Not only the locals but also people from other countries are in love with the beautiful African tribal art forms. One can find such collectible items at various traditional and online museums dedicated to African art.

Collecting rare African artefacts is an interesting hobby but never forget that it is also a challenging task at the same time.

Here are some valuable African art collecting tips:

1. Thorough research

Do a bit of research on your own about the art form. For instance, dig out the source from where a particular original wildlife painting came and who the owner was before this dealer. Also try and find out the history behind the art item.

2. Originality

Give importance on the ethnic provenance or the originality of the art piece. Until you know the piece you are buying is an original one, it is pointless investing money in it. Check out online galleries to look for the authentic sculptures, masks, original oil paintings or wildlife paintings.

3. Pedigree
Tribal art is as old as the African civilization and the older art pieces carry higher value in the market. African art pieces from the thirties have a higher value as compared to the pieces of the same era found in the Western countries such as Germany, the USA, France or Canada.

4. Dimension

Tribal art pieces come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. Do not give importance to the size of a piece but try to keep your focus on its rarity and quality aspects. No matter where you want to purchase a collectible piece, whether it is an online art gallery or an offline one, the quality and uniqueness of the piece must be given prime importance.

5. Preservation
To retain the original shine on any valuable tribal art piece, it needs extensive maintenance. Hence avoid purchasing a piece that might need too much restoration as touching up can decrease the value of the art item.

6. Auction prices

Avoid buying African tribal art pieces from an auction as it can lead to a much higher price for a particular piece. In no way does a higher price indicates that the quality of that very piece is of top class. In that note, buying from an art gallery, either online or offline can be more fruitful.

7. Look out for the Signature

Whether you are buying an original painting online or offline, look for the signature of the artist. It proves the authenticity of the painting.

Always remember that apart from having an eye for the beauty and quality of African tribal art, you must find an honest dealer or seller who has a good reputation for handling original paintings. To start with, you can browse around some reputed online or offline galleries to pick some original oil paintings or masks to add to your art collection or add a touch of class to your home or office décor.

Tony Chalmers is an art critic and a specialist in original oil paintingsand wildlife paintings of Africa. He has also written many insightful articles on art appreciation and African Paintings .

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